Interior Minister meets PM, discusses Taliban dialogue
Both leaders reviewed developments of Taliban dialogue and overall national security matters.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday to brief him about the developments regarding the Taliban negotiations process, Dunya News reported.
Reportedly, Ch Nisar explained the developments in details and took Prime Minister into confidence. Government’s next strategy regarding the negotiations also came under discussion.
Prime Minister and Interior Minister also discussed the overall national security situations.
Earlier, Chaudhry Nisar convened a joint meeting of government and Taliban dialogue committees today (Saturday).
It merits mentioning here that Taliban had expressed satisfaction on Thursday over government committee’s explanation, that no women are being held in government’s custody, in a meeting with Taliban Shura.
According to sources, in a meeting with Taliban which took place a day earlier, government committee explained that if family members of Fazlullah can be released, government has no reason to hold other women and children.
Government committee also offered further investigation if Taliban provide any evidential information. Reportedly, Taliban expressed satisfaction over government’s position.
Sources reveal that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was also mentioned repeatedly during the meeting. At one point, an unnamed member of government committee reiterated that Nawaz Sharif wants political solution to the conflict; to which Taliban leader Maulvi Bashir responded by saying “you people are obsessed with Nawaz Sharif.”
Government committee also met Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and debriefed him about the developments on Taliban meeting. Next meeting is expected to take place in next two to three days.
Dialogue ups and downs:
Pakistan is facing almost a decade old insurgency at the hands of Taliban factions grouped under umbrella of Tehrik-e-Taliban. The new governing parties including Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) had campaigned in elections in favour of resolving the years old conflict through dialogue.
The ruling party secured a vote of confidence in favour of dialogue through a session of All Parties Conference (APC) and to act on the recommendation upon willingness from Taliban, committees to represent both government and Taliban were formed and the process continued.
However, all negotiations stalled as a number of civilians and military personnel were brutalized whose responsibility was claimed by Taliban.
Following a number of air strikes by Pakistan military, Taliban agreed to a month-long ceasefire which was later reciprocated by the government.
Government also dissolved the existing committees emphasizing the need of moving forward the negotiations to next phase by restructuring the existing government committee to hold ‘direct talks’.
