Pakistan urges Taliban peace talks despite threats

ISLAMABAD

A senior cabinet member of the Pakistani government told Anadolu Agency the government has decided to stick with ongoing peace talks with the Taliban movement in Pakistan, despite the Taliban declaring a unilateral end to a 40-day long ceasefire. The ceasefire had brought terrorism to low ebb.

The decision was taken at an urgently called meeting to review the situation on Thursday in Islamabad of the National Security Committee, comprising the country’s top civil and military leadership. 

“There was a consensus in the meeting that peace talks should continue until unless the Taliban decide to quit," a senior cabinet member who attended the meeting and wishes not to be named, told AA.

He said that security forces were nonetheless allowed to retaliate if the Taliban carries out terrorist attacks.

“The security forces will have the right to respond to any attack accordingly," he added. “Security agencies have been put on high alert all over the country to avert any untoward incident, following the Taliban's end to the ceasefire,” he added.

On Wednesday, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (Taliban Network in Pakistan) which is the mother organization for several insurgent networks operating in Pakistan, announced they were ending the ceasefire, blaming the government they accused of failing to fulfill their promises vis-à-vis the peace process during the 40 days of the ceasefire. 

Instead, the Taliban alleges that more than 50 Taliban prisoners were tortured to death while under the custody of the security agencies during the last 40 days. The Taliban said it would continue to stick with the peace process, depending on their perception of the sincerity of government behavior and progress from talks.

The Taliban declared a month-long ceasefire on March 1, which later was extended for six days on April 4.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is serving his third term as premier, initiated the peace process on January 29.

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