Pakistan, TTP agree on indefinite ceasefire

This after both sides expressed reservations over certain demands put forward by the opposite party in a meeting earlier this month.

Both the sides have also agreed to continue to hold the dialogue in an effort to break the stalemate and have formed a three member committee for the purpose, with representatives from each side to clear out the differences. These talks will be moderated by Haqqani network chief Sirajuddin Haqqani.

The TTP is represented by Mufti Ghofran, Commander Zarar and Omar Khalid Khorasani while the Pakistani delegation comprises senior military and intelligence officials. A second committee has also been formed by the Pakistani authorities.

The current talks between the two sides have been going on in Kabul since the start of this month which has resulted in the extension of the ceasefire between the forces and the Taliban on two occasions.

During the meeting between Pakistan and TTP on May 18, the Taliban had asked the government to release its top and mid-tier commanders, stop operations in the ex-Fata region, and general amnesty and repatriation for the militants and their families and in turn Pakistan, had asked them to stop targeting the Pakistani installations in cross-border attacks, extend the ceasefire and let the fencing of the Pak-Afghan border continue unhampered.

As a result of these talks, the ceasefire had been extended by 15 days, but there was no confirmation on the status of other demands.

It was agreed that both sides would announce a ceasefire till the conclusion of the dialogue.

The Afghan Taliban, who stormed to power last year in August, are facilitating the talks between the two sides.

(With UNI inputs)