Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz sharif has formed 4-member panel for talks with the terrorist group involved in killings of civilians and security men.

Islamabad, Jan 30/Nationalturk – Amid expectation that Pakistan government may announce military operation against terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, country’s Prime Minister Nawaz sharif has instead formed 4-member panel for talks with the terrorist group involved in killings of civilians and security men.

“I have constituted a four-member committee headed by my Adviser on National Affairs, Irfan Siddique to establish contact with the Taliban militants and pave the way for a dialogue,” Nawaz told country’s parliament (National Assembly).

The committee under Irfan Siddique will also include Major (R) Muhammad Aamir, renowned journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai and Pakistan’s former envoy in Afghanistan Rustam Shah Mohmand.

He said he is doing all this with good intentions so that game of fire comes to an end.

“War against terrorism would be won at all costs either through the dialogue process or the operation and all the political parties should be on the same page,” Nawaz said adding, “Since the other side has shown intent to negotiate, we also wish to give peace yet another chance”.

He said the acts of terror must stop as terrorism and talks cannot continue simultaneously.

PM assured the parliament members that talks with TTP would be conducted in open and transparent manner.

“The government would not allow the country to be held hostage by terrorists,” he said while referring to the recent wave of terrorist strikes in Bannu, Peshawar, Hangu, attacks on anti-polio workers, media, minorities and religious scholars

‘TTP should also form committee’

One of the member of 4-member panel Irfan Siddiqui told reporters that Taliban should also form a committee or similar body for talks.

“The first thing the committee will do is to establish contact with the Taliban and then to conclude the talks as soon as possible because the country’s security situation is serious.

There are no prerequisites for talks and there is no guarantee for anything because we don’t want to start talks with ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’,” he was quoted as saying by Pakistan newspaper, Express Tribune.

TTP welcomes Nawaz’s statement

According to media reports, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid has welcomed PM Nawaz Sharif’s decision to form a four-member committee for talks with the militant group.

“Peace can be achieved if dialogue is carried out in every sense of the word, avoiding blame games and politics of deception,” he said adding peace accords of Swat and Wana, South Waziristan, should be kept in mind if dialogue is to be pursued.

He claimed that TTP had always wanted to resolve disputes through dialogue. “However, the previous governments used talks as a cover for using force, which is why negotiations failed. We have shown time and again that we are very serious about dialogue as we have received emissaries of the government well and responded to them accordingly.”

“TTP Shura (Advisory council) will sit to carefully assess and consider Nawaz Sharif’s decision of forming this committee and will make its decision public through the media,” the spokesman added.

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