Pakistan names team to hold peace talks with Taliban

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http://www.opednews.com/articles/Pakistan-names-team-to-hol-by-Abdus-Sattar-Ghaza-Ceasefire_Dawn_Fatwa_Media-140130-397.html



Pakistan names team to hold peace talks with Taliban
Exclusive to OpEdNews:
OpEdNews Op Eds 1/30/2014 at 08:53:47
By Abdus-Sattar Ghazali

Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Nawaz Sharif, has announced that his government would pursue peace talks with Taliban militants despite a recent spate of attacks. Addressing a session of the National Assembly, on Wednesday, Nawaz Sharif said "Since the other side has shown intent to negotiate, we also wish to give peace yet another chance."

Nawaz Sharif's offer came days after the Taliban spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid said in a statement that Taliban is ready to hold talks with Pakistan if it provides favorable atmosphere for the process. He said the government was accusing the Tehrkik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of being reluctant to join a dialogue while also talking about operations against the militants.

It may be recalled that the government had established contacts with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) last year. The TTP proposed seven names for peace talks. However, the process came to a halt after a US drone attack killed the Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud on Nov 1, 2013.

Nawaz Sharif has also announced the constitution of a four-member team to holds talks with the Taliban. The includes his Advisor on National Affairs, Irfan Siddique, veteran journalist from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Rahimullah Yusufzai, former ambassador and expert on Afghanistan affairs Rustam Shah Mohmand and former ISI official Major Amir Shah.