ISLAMABAD: While talking to TRT World, PM Imran Khan has revealed that his government was in talks with some groups of proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) who were willing for rapprochement. 

PM informed that there were different groups which form the TTP and some of them wanted to talk to the incumbent PTI-led coalition government for peace. Pointing out that Afghan Taliban were acting as mediators, Imran Khan told though his government was talking to the TTP (presently based in Afghanistan), the two parties might not reach some sort of settlement.

Hence the justification why TTP was still involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan. Imran Khan said as a politician he reckons dialogue was the only way ahead and there was no military solution to Afghan issue.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party, reacting to the development, asked why Parliament was not taken into confidence over a move that was like sprinkling salt on the wounds of martyrs’ families. Party also demanded the PTI-led coalition government to inform the House about the terms under which the negotiations took place with TTP.

Nevertheless, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain maintained that those members of the proscribed militant group TTP who wanted to live peacefully should be given a chance. Emphasizing on the importance of recalling the background he pointed towards the loss of lives of Pakistani citoyens due to terrorism. He said that PM had set certain principles and the government wanted to move forward following those principles in order to facilitate members of TTP live like a normal citizen.

A statement from the TTP (dated 1st of October, 2021) states that their leaders, who were engaged in secret talks, had asked all fighters to observe ceasefire from 1st till 20th of October (2021).  TTP will thus not carry out any attacks against army in South Waziristan.

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