The outlawed Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced on Thursday an "indefinite ceasefire" in view of the "substantial progress" made in talks with the government during a round of meetings in Kabul.

The announcement, made by TTP spokesman Mohammad Khorasani, comes a day after a 50-member Pakistani tribal jirga — including a federal minister, representatives from the KP government and tribal elders — joined the peace talks on Wednesday.

"There had been substantial progress in talks over the past two days. As a result, the TTP leadership has announced an indefinite ceasefire," the TTP spokesman said.

He said talks would continue in days to come to push the dialogue process.

A member of the jirga also confirmed the ceasefire with a terse "yes" when Dawn.com approached him in Kabul.

The Inter-Services Public Relations, the military's public affairs wing, did not reply to a query about the TTP’s announcement.

Dawn.com had on Tuesday reported that the TTP and the government negotiators had agreed on an indefinite ceasefire.

The ceasefire was one of the key issues on the agenda that is now seen as a major confidence-building measure to take the process forward.

The previous ceasefire between the two sides expired on May 30.

Former governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shaukatullah Khan, who is part of the jirga, had told Dawn.com that the jirga's role is “very important” in view of tribal traditions that are respected by both sides.

On the first day of the talks, both sides had shared their views on how to take the process forward and mooted suggestions in this regard.

Opinion

Revival? For whom?

Revival? For whom?

Numerous sets of numbers, not quoted by govt sources, suggest that things are not as dazzling as claimed by those who run the country.

Editorial

Premature alarm
Updated 20 Feb, 2025

Premature alarm

Improvement in headline inflation gives policymakers chance to fix investment policies, implement structural reforms.
Forsaken province
20 Feb, 2025

Forsaken province

AND the endless cycle of violence continues. The brutal killing on Tuesday night of seven Punjab-bound passengers in...
In poor health
20 Feb, 2025

In poor health

THE absence of decent and affordable healthcare in the country continues to ruin lives. An example of this is ...
Out of control
Updated 19 Feb, 2025

Out of control

AS bodies continue to fall in Kurram despite a state-sanctioned ceasefire, one wonders how long local militants’...
Hollow words
19 Feb, 2025

Hollow words

IT is not uncommon for politicians to resort to the use of hyperbole in order to boost their public standing. ...
Migration matters
19 Feb, 2025

Migration matters

THE grass, it seems, did appear greener on the other side to millions of people as evidenced by the latest UN ...