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June 03 , 2022
TTP Declares Indefinite Ceasefire following 'Substantial Progress' Made in Talks with Govt
Islamabad: The outlawed Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced on Thursday an "indefinite ceasefire" following "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.
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 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.
According to an earlier AP report, Mahmood Shah, a Pakistani security analyst, said the Islamabad government sent tribal elders to Kabul as intermediaries because under Pakistan's constitution, the government cannot negotiate — at least not directly — with those waging an insurgency against it.
Shah served as a local official in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when the military launched operations there after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, closely liaising between the military and the government side, which allowed for first-hand knowledge of operations against the TTP and other militant groups.
Pakistani officials say the talks with the TTP are being overseen by Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, a former Pakistani spy chief who is now the top commander in the northwest.