Govt, Taliban talks entering new phase

NOWSHERA: The government and Taliban committees formed to hold peace talks ended their stalemate when they met in Akora Khattak on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the government committee’s proposals submitted to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the resumption of talks were discussed. The Taliban committee expressed their agreement with the proposals. The committees also discussed the start of the next phase of the dialogue process in which decisions will have to be made.

According to sources, the proposals submitted to the prime minister suggest the inclusion of representatives of the federal government, army and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in the committee. The inclusion of Taliban shura members in the Taliban committee has also been recommended.

The committees held a news conference following their meeting. The government committee coordinator Irfan Siddiqui said the dialogue process had entered a new phase. “We have entered the second phase and discussed moving the dialogue process further.” According to Siddiqui the Taliban committee had expressed the desire to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Taliban committee member, Maulana Samiul Haq welcomed the ceasefire announcement by the government and Taliban. “The government and Taliban need to stop blaming each other and identify the enemy,” Maulana Sami told reporters. Maulana Sami added that the committees had opened the door for dialogue and it was no up to the stakeholders to make a decision.