Taliban ceasefire will not cease: Maulana Sami

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) and head of the Taliban negotiation committee, Maulana Samiul Haq Saturday ruled out the possibility of the current ceasefire coming to an end.

Talking to media persons after his meeting with the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar here, Maulana Sami said an assessment has been made of the negotiations held between the committees representing the two sides.

He said the peace-process will gain momentum once the stand of both the sides comes to the fore. However, he underscored the need for practical steps for taking the dialogue process forward.

The Maulana said the agenda for the next round of direct talks with the Taliban will be worked out after the government makes its stance public. “The Interior Minister has sought some time,” he told the mediamen.

He said another meeting of the two committees is expected to be held within two-three days. In that meeting government will clarify its viewpoint, thereafter, the venue and time for holding the second round of direct talks with the Taliban will be finalized.