TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid. Naseer Azam—AFP
TTP spokesman warns that Shura will determine future course of action if their demands are not met.
The Pakistani Taliban on Friday extended a ceasefire by six days to allow the government more time to meet their demands of releasing “noncombatant” prisoners and pulling back soldiers, the militia said in a statement.
The government began negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan through intermediaries in February to try to end the extremists’ bloody seven-year insurgency.
“We announce to extend the ceasefire till April 10 and TTP directs all Mujahideen to suspend their actions against government and security forces,” spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said in a statement. “Once again with full responsibility and seriousness TTP awaits a positive response from the government,” he said and added that “despite the lapse of three days in ceasefire there was a mysterious silence on government side.”
Shahid said that the umbrella militant group had only demanded the release of what they called “noncombatant” prisoners and the establishment of a “peace zone” where security forces would not be present. Last month the Taliban handed over a list of 300 people including women, children, and old men, who they claimed were noncombatant prisoners of the government.
“If our demands are not met, a meeting of our Shura will be convened to decide future course of action,” Shahid said.
On Wednesday, the government handed over 19 tribesmen based in South Waziristan, calling them “noncombatant Taliban prisoners.” But Shahid denied the men had been sought by the group or were its members.
On March 26, a four-member government committee comprising three civil servants and a former diplomat held their first meeting with members of the TTP’s political council in North Waziristan tribal district. Both sides met in Islamabad for a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan amid growing speculation that the negotiations had ended in a deadlock.
There have been suggestions that high-profile figures held by the militants, including the son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, could be freed in return.