Photo shows Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan (R).—File Photo

PESHAWAR: The Pakistani Taliban have rejected an offer of peace talks coming out of an all parties conference called by the Awami National Party (ANP), the ruling party in militancy-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

“This ANP-sponsored offer of talks is just the party's election agenda,” said Ehsanullah Ehsan, a spokesman for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), told Dawn.com on Friday from an undisclosed location.

Two weeks after the banned militant outfit had initially made a conditional offer for peace talks with the government, the country’s major political parties huddled together on Thursday at an ANP-led all parties conference, and announced they had all agreed on the need for peace through dialogue with the militants.

“Attaining peace through dialogue should be the first priority,” said a joint declaration read out by ANP chief Asfandyr Wali Khan.

However, the Pakistani Taliban dismissed the contents of the declaration as “old wine in a new bottle.”

“The Taliban are still waiting for a serious and meaningful response to peace talks offer from the Pakistani government and the military,” said Ehsan, reading out what he said was a statement issued after a key meeting of the Taliban shura (council).

“The non-participation of the Jamaat-i-Islami in the APC is also a clear indication that it was a failure,” he added.

Opinion

Editorial

Errant ECP
Updated 22 Jan, 2025

Errant ECP

THE ECP has once again earned a detailed reprimand from the Supreme Court. That it still refuses to correct course is ominous
Fast-tracking M6
Updated 22 Jan, 2025

Fast-tracking M6

GRAND infrastructure projects in Pakistan often progress at the pace of a bullock cart rather than a bullet train....
Gwadar airport
Updated 22 Jan, 2025

Gwadar airport

THE air connectivity established by the inauguration of PIA flights between Karachi and Gwadar is a major step...
Trump 2.0
Updated 21 Jan, 2025

Trump 2.0

Few have forgotten how disruptive Trump could be as president. There has been little indication that his 2nd term will be any different.
GB’s status
21 Jan, 2025

GB’s status

THE demand raised by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for constitutional clarity and provisional provincial status is...
Panda bond
Updated 21 Jan, 2025

Panda bond

ISLAMABAD’S plans to raise $200m from China’s capital markets through the inaugural issue of a Panda bond this...