Pakistani Taliban accuse govt of violating ceasefire

Published April 8, 2014
Shahidullah Shahid, the central spokesman of the Pakistani Taliban (centre). – File photo
Shahidullah Shahid, the central spokesman of the Pakistani Taliban (centre). – File photo

PESHAWAR: As the deadline of Taliban offered ceasefire ends on April 10, the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has accused the government of violating the truce and said the latter has also failed to accept their three demands.

The militant outfit, reiterating its rhetoric of ceasefire violation by the government, said that the TTP is following the truce but its activists are being targetted throughout the country in different operations carry out by security forces.

Shahidullah Shahid, the central spokesman of the Pakistani Taliban, said in a statement on Tuesday that the decision on further extending the ceasefire would be taken after expiry of the deadline, on April 10.

He said that so far the government has not given any response to the TTP demands and direct talks between the two committees are yet to happen with just two days to go before expiry of the ceasefire deadline.

On Saturday while announcing release of further 13 Taliban prisoners, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters that next round of direct talks with the TTP shura will be held soon and the number of released prisoner would rise to 30 before that. The government released 19 prisoners earlier this month.

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