ISLAMABAD: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has announced an end to its hostilities in South Waziristan from last Friday (Oct 1). TTP issued a statement in which it said the TTP leaders have asked all fighters to observe a ceasefire from Oct 1 to Oct 20.
The TTP said that their leaders are engaged in some talks, without elaborating any further.
The news comes in the backdrop of Prime Minister Imran Khan who announced earlier in the day that the government is in talks with some groups of the TTP for disarmament.
PM Imran Khan, speaking to TRT World’s Ali Mustafa in Islamabad, said: “I think some of the Pakistani Taliban groups actually want to talk to our government. You know, for some peace, for some reconciliation.”
When asked to confirm whether Pakistan is actually in talks with the TTP, the premier clarified to say that talks are ongoing “with some of them”.
He said that the Afghan Taliban are “helping”, in the sense that the talks are taking place in Afghanistan.
The premier said that these talks, for disarmament, if successful, will lead to the government “forgiving” them, “and then they [will] become normal citizens”.
The government’s announcement was met with stiff resistance and outrage by the Opposition.
PPP calls for parliament session
The PPP leaders noted the government had bypassed the parliament with regard to initiating talks with the banned outfit. “A parliament session should be called, and the members taken into confidence,” they said.
