ISLAMABAD: The stage is finally set for direct talks between a new government committee and the Shura of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in an attempt to address the twin challenges of terrorism and militancy.

In what many see as a breakthrough, the committees representing the government and the Taliban held their first joint meeting here at the Punjab House on Saturday and agreed on the venue for direct talks. The meeting was presided over by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

Both committees refused to disclose the place chosen, but sources said flexibility shown by the government had made it possible to remove a hitch that had been delaying commencement of the new phase of the peace process. But the sources too stopped short of specifying the venue.

The government had earlier proposed the Bannu airport as venue for talks while the TTP favoured their stronghold of North Waziristan.

Maulana Samiul Haq, the Taliban committee’s chief, Prof Ibrahim and Maulana Yusuf Shah, the two other members, and the government committee’s members Habibullah Khattak, Fawad Hassan Fawad, Rustam Shah Mohmand and Arbab Arif attended the meeting.

The presence of retired Major Amir, who was a member of the first peace committee formed by the government, in Saturday’s meeting led many to wonder about his role in the dialogue.

He had recently said the first committee set up by the government stood dissolved because it was not possible for it to handle sensitive matters.

Maulana Sami told reporters that some key decisions had been taken during the meeting.

He said the two sides had agreed upon a venue for the next phase of negotiations, and that the government committee would soon enter into direct talks with the TTP Shura at that place.

Maulana Yousuf described Saturday’s meeting as a breakthrough. “The nation will soon hear good news.”

The interior minister told a press conference on Friday that direct talks between the government committee and the Taliban would begin in a few days. A sensitive phase of the peace process was about to start and it would bring to an end all misgivings and misconceptions, he said. He also indicated that the month-long ceasefire announced by the TTP would continue beyond March 31.

The minister had warned of action against elements conspiring to sabotage the peace process. He said he was hopeful about a positive development, but at the same time added that it was better for the government to move quietly and avoid media glare.

The government had announced formation of a committee to hold talks with the TTP at the end of January, asking the other side to do the same. The talks finally started in the first week of last month, but got stuck in an impasse after Taliban-linked militants murdered 23 kidnapped FC soldiers. The killings resulted in targeted air strikes by the military against suspected hideouts in the tribal areas.

The government formed the new committee on March 12 to hold direct talks with the TTP.

The step was taken over a week after the Taliban’s ceasefire announcement.