ISLAMABAD
Pakistan's Taliban has rejected on Wednesday the extension of a month-long ceasefire with the government that was a condition for peace talks between the two sides.
“We have not extended the ceasefire due to continuous violation of ceasefire on the government’s part," said Omer Khalid Khurasani, chief of militant coalition Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “Now, the war will resume again.”
Khurasani did not elaborate on whether the network, blamed for violent attacks across the country, was quitting the ongoing peace process or whether TTP would immediately resume attacks.
“All the influential segments of the country want war (against Taliban),” said Khurasani.
He said the government had not abided by promises during the ceasefire and that the killing of 23 security personnel in February 2014 was revenge for alleged deaths of TTP commanders in the custody of security forces.
TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid told Pakistan's Samma TV no decision has been taken on extending the ceasefire but there was a "voice of dissent" within the group's Shura (consultative body).
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