Govt and TTP have agreed to a complete ceasefire: Fawad Chaudhry

• Fawad says peace talks have been started and both sides have agreed to an absolute ceasefire under a deal.
• Says Taliban-led interim government in Afghanistan has played the role of the mediator in the talks.
• Says negotiations will be in accordance with the laws and Constitution of Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry Monday announced that the government of Pakistan and banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have agreed to a complete ceasefire under the peace talks.

The minister made the statement while informing the media about the recent developments in the talks between the government and the banned TTP.

He said that the negotiations with the TTP, mentioned by Prime Minister Imran Khan in an interview on October 1, 2021, have started and both sides have agreed to an absolute ceasefire under a deal.

Fawad said that the Taliban-led interim government in Afghanistan has played the role of the mediator in the peace talks.

“The government-TTP talks will be in accordance with the laws and Constitution of Pakistan,” said Fawad, adding that none of the governments in Pakistan can hold talks against the law.

The ceasefire would be extended keeping in view the progress of the talks, he said, adding that the state's sovereignty and national security will be kept in view while the individuals of the relevant areas — where the TTP operated — will be taken into confidence during the peace talks.

“The affected individuals of these areas cannot be disregarded,” said Fawad.

“It is gratifying that these areas of Pakistan are moving towards absolute peace after a long time.”

There has been a positive development in talks between the Pakistan government and Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban as Islamabad had reportedly agreed to release several Taliban prisoners in the first phase to encourage the Taliban militants to declare a country-wide ceasefire, The News had reported.

Read more: Pakistan agrees to release several TTP prisoners: report

Govt has asked banned TTP to lay down arms, surrender: sources

The PTI-led government had earlier asked the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to lay down their arms and surrender, sources within the Afghan Taliban informed Geo News on Friday, November 6.

According to the sources, Afghan Taliban commander Sirajuddin Haqqani is playing a key role in ceasefire talks and is working to make negotiations between the PTI-led government and the banned outfit a success.

Per the sources, the chief of the banned TTP, Mufti Noor Wali, is leading the talks from the group's side.

However, the banned outfit had maintained that it would be "too early to" lay down arms and has demanded the government release their members from prison.

The government has not reacted to the demands of the banned outfit yet, the Afghan Taliban sources said, adding that negotiations could be successful if strong guarantors are provided and the outfit's conditions are accepted.

They added that while some factions of the banned TTP are in favour of holding talks with the Pakistani government, others are still taking a hardline approach.

Pakistan in talks with TTP factions for disarmament: PM Imran Khan

It should be recalled that last month, Prime Minister Imran Khan had admitted that his government was in disarmament talks with some factions of the banned TTP as Pakistan sought stability in the country in the backdrop of a fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan.

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 had clarified to say that talks are ongoing "with some of them".

He had said that the Afghan Taliban are "helping", in the sense that the talks are taking place in Afghanistan.

The premier had said that these talks, for disarmament, if successful, will lead to the government "forgiving" them, "and then they [will] become normal citizens".

Stressing that he does expect some sort of deal to emerge with the TTP, he said: "I do not believe in military solutions. I am anti-military solutions. So, I always believe that you know, as a politician, political dialogue is the way forward, which I always believed was the case in Afghanistan with the US."

The premier had noted he always believed that a non-military solution was the only way forward for Afghanistan — and he has reiterated it time and again on national, international forums.

The premier's announcement was met with stiff resistance and outrage by the Opposition.

TTP announce suspension of hostilities in South Waziristan

Early last month, a cessation in hostilities between the TTP, Pakistan fighters in South Waziristan, and the army was announced by the outlawed group in a statement.

Our leaders have asked all fighters to observe a ceasefire from today to October 20, the TTP statement said.

The TTP said that their leaders are engaged in some "secret talks", without elaborating any further.