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Govt talks committee to directly meet Taliban leadership: Maulana Samiul Haq
By Web Desk
Published: March 14, 2014
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Express News screengrab showing Coordinator of TTP committee Maulana Yousaf Shah, Jamaat-e-Islami's Professor Ibrahim and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) district chief Maulana Abdul Hai.
NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Noting progress in talks with the Taliban on Friday, Maulana Samiul Haq said that the next stage in talks, for the government peace talks committee to directly meet Taliban leadership, had been green-lighted.
Haq briefed the media in Akora Khattak after being briefed behind closed doors by Professor Ibrahim and Maulana Yousuf Shah (TTP nominated peace talks committee).
Prof Ibrahim and Maulana Shah had returned on Friday after having met the Majlis-e-Shura of the Taliban in Waziristan.
Haq said that the members had a detailed discussion with Taliban leadership and informed them of the newly fomred government committee.
The Taliban emphasised that their nominated committee will remain part of the negotiation process, Haq conveyed.
Head of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema Islam (Sami group), Haq said that the next phase in talks were dependent on a venue being decided.
TTP negotiations committee returns
Earlier on Friday, the TTP committee returned to Akora Khattak, Express News reported.
Coordinator of TTP committee Maulana Yousaf Shah, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Professor Ibrahim and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) district chief Maulana Abdul Hai had traveled to North Waziristan via a special helicoper.
The meeting with the Taliban shura was positive, Professor Ibrahim said.
“We will have the government committee also meet the Taliban and we will accompany them to Waziristan,” he added.
Sources say that the members of the committee will also meet Maulana Samiul Haq in Darul uloom Haqqania.
Maulana Samiul Haq will preside over the closed-door meeting with members of the TTP committee where the committee will brief Maulana Samiul Haq on the progress made with the peace talks.
Drones force TTP intermediaries to change meeting site
As US drones flew above them, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) intermediaries and the Taliban political shura (advisory council) changed their meeting place to a different location, Express News reported on Friday.
The second phase of talks between the TTP negotiators and the Taliban political shura began today.
The TTP intermediaries had left Islamabad and reached North Waziristan to meet the shura on March 14.
The purpose of the visit was to decide the timing and venue for face-to-face talks between the new government negotiators and the TTP.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had said that formal talks with the TTP would begin the moment the timing and venue for the dialogue was decided.
New govt committee
The government had formed a new committee on March 12 to hold direct talks with the TTP as part of efforts to end years of violence that has plagued the country.
Ports and Shipping Secretary Habibullah Khattak would head the four-member committee which will include Fata Additional Secretary Arbab Arif, Additional Secretary to Prime Minister Office Fawad Hassan Fawad and former diplomat Rustam Shah Mohmand, who was in the previous negotiating team as well.
By Web Desk
Published: March 14, 2014
Share this article Print this page Email Express News screengrab showing Coordinator of TTP committee Maulana Yousaf Shah, Jamaat-e-Islami's Professor Ibrahim and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) district chief Maulana Abdul Hai.
NORTH WAZIRISTAN: Noting progress in talks with the Taliban on Friday, Maulana Samiul Haq said that the next stage in talks, for the government peace talks committee to directly meet Taliban leadership, had been green-lighted.
Haq briefed the media in Akora Khattak after being briefed behind closed doors by Professor Ibrahim and Maulana Yousuf Shah (TTP nominated peace talks committee).
Prof Ibrahim and Maulana Shah had returned on Friday after having met the Majlis-e-Shura of the Taliban in Waziristan.
Haq said that the members had a detailed discussion with Taliban leadership and informed them of the newly fomred government committee.
The Taliban emphasised that their nominated committee will remain part of the negotiation process, Haq conveyed.
Head of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema Islam (Sami group), Haq said that the next phase in talks were dependent on a venue being decided.
TTP negotiations committee returns
Earlier on Friday, the TTP committee returned to Akora Khattak, Express News reported.
Coordinator of TTP committee Maulana Yousaf Shah, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Professor Ibrahim and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) district chief Maulana Abdul Hai had traveled to North Waziristan via a special helicoper.
The meeting with the Taliban shura was positive, Professor Ibrahim said.
“We will have the government committee also meet the Taliban and we will accompany them to Waziristan,” he added.
Sources say that the members of the committee will also meet Maulana Samiul Haq in Darul uloom Haqqania.
Maulana Samiul Haq will preside over the closed-door meeting with members of the TTP committee where the committee will brief Maulana Samiul Haq on the progress made with the peace talks.
Drones force TTP intermediaries to change meeting site
As US drones flew above them, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) intermediaries and the Taliban political shura (advisory council) changed their meeting place to a different location, Express News reported on Friday.
The second phase of talks between the TTP negotiators and the Taliban political shura began today.
The TTP intermediaries had left Islamabad and reached North Waziristan to meet the shura on March 14.
The purpose of the visit was to decide the timing and venue for face-to-face talks between the new government negotiators and the TTP.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had said that formal talks with the TTP would begin the moment the timing and venue for the dialogue was decided.
New govt committee
The government had formed a new committee on March 12 to hold direct talks with the TTP as part of efforts to end years of violence that has plagued the country.
Ports and Shipping Secretary Habibullah Khattak would head the four-member committee which will include Fata Additional Secretary Arbab Arif, Additional Secretary to Prime Minister Office Fawad Hassan Fawad and former diplomat Rustam Shah Mohmand, who was in the previous negotiating team as well.
