ISLAMABAD
A 40-day long ceasefire between the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella organization for various insurgent groups operating in Pakistan, with security forces ended Thursday without any official declaration from either side.
Although, a Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesperson, Shahidullah Shahid, blamed security forces for not abiding by the ceasefire conditions Wednesday, a day before the expiry date of the ceasefire, he did not make it clear if the deadline would be extended or whether the organization would resume its attacks against security forces.
Local media quoting unnamed Taliban sources reported that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan shura (consultative body) was meeting somewhere in North Waziristan to discuss the end of the ceasefire.
Professor Ibrahim Khan, one of three Taliban negotiators, confirmed to Anadolu Agency that there was no extension of the ceasefire that brought Taliban related violence to a low ebb during the last month, but that negotiators were trying to get in touch with the Taliban leadership.
However, Ibrahim added he was hopeful that there would be an announcement regarding the extension of the ceasefire in a couple of days as the “Taliban want to end this war too."
Meanwhile, Rustum Shah Mohmind, a member of the government negotiating team, told reporters that the ceasefire would stay in place till the continuation of peace talks.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan announced March 1 a month long ceasefire to give talks aimed at ending the 11-year insurgency in Pakistan a chance. The ceasefire was then extended for 6 days on April 4.
The organization has continuously blamed the government for not “doing enough” with respect to their three major demands, including the release of non-combatant prisoners and the establishment of a “peace zone” for holding talks.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif began the peace process on January 29.
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