Negotiation committees establish backdoor contact
Taliban committee claimed there will be a breakthrough upon Samiul Haq's return from Umra.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Government and Taliban committees continue to establish back channel contact with reportedly positive response from Taliban despite the general impression of halted talks, Dunya News reported.
According to reports, both committees met Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar two days ago. Ch Nisar insisted Taliban to announce ceasefire and disassociate themselves from terrorists following which the committee representing Taliban sought two days time vowing a ‘positive response’.
The ‘positive’ response from Taliban is being interpreted as a link of the chain. Taliban committee member Yousaf Shah said that Taliban Shura have hinted the desire to continue talks and have put forward one demand for government which wasn’t reported.
Yousaf Shah also claimed that there will be a breakthrough upon Maulana Samiul Haq’s return from Umra.
Peace talks between the Taliban and the government, announced on January 29, stalled last week due to a recent surge in insurgent attacks and subsequent claims by a Taliban including a faction claiming that it had killed 23 kidnapped soldiers.
Following the operation, government had assured to keep the negotiation option still on the table.
