The Pakistani government and the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group have agreed to a month-long ceasefire, which began on Tuesday 9 November that could be extended if both sides adhere to the terms of the truce.
Information Minister and government spokesman, Fawad Chaudhry, said on Monday: “The government of Pakistan and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan have agreed on a complete ceasefire. The ceasefire will keep on extending with the progress in the negotiations.
“The state’s sovereignty, national security, peace in relevant areas and social and economic stability will be considered during the talks. All the negotiations will take place within the ambit of the constitution of Pakistan.”
The negotiation between the state of Pakistan and TTP was facilitated by the current Taliban administration in Kabul. The Taliban in Pakistan is a separate entity from the Taliban in Afghanistan, they have completely different goals respectively. The current ceasefire is part of ongoing negotiations between Pakistan and the TTP.
TTP also put out a statement confirming the news. Mohammad Khorasani, a spokesperson for the group said: “It is necessary for both sides to adhere to the agreement. We are ready for the future negotiations that would bring lasting peace in the country.
“Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is a mediator between the government of Pakistan and TTP and if both sides agree the ceasefire will be extended further in the future. Both sides have agreed to form negotiation teams who will take forward the process.”
According to Government sources, TTP has to halt all operations against the state and in return, the Government will release an unknown number of TTP members.
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In an interview with TRT World last month, Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan confirmed that the government was in talks with TTP.
PM Khan said: “There are different groups which form the TTP and some of them want to talk to our government for peace. So, we are in talks with them. It is a reconciliation process. I am anti-military solution, and as a politician, I believe political dialogue is the way forward.”
In a letter, TTP Chief, Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud ordered his fighters to stop all attacks with immediate effect.
The letter read: “That the TTP have entered in negotiations with the government of Pakistan and in order to take forward the process it is ordered to all the members of the organisation to strictly refrain from any actions whatsoever. The tentative ceasefire has been announced and will last for one month staring November 9th.”
Meanwhile Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmed Khan, told Express Tribune that the Taliban Government in Afghanistan will take military action against any group using Afghan soil against Pakistan.
