ISLAMABAD:
The release of 19 Taliban prisoners on Thursday and the expected freeing
of over 100 similar detainees from the security agencies’ custody in
the coming days is the consequence of the government’s decision to help
get the talk process succeed.
Now the pressure is on the TTP to release the likes of Dr Ajmal, Shahbaz Taseer and Ali Gillani besides announcing the extension of ceasefire for an indefinite period.The release of 19 Taliban detainees from the government custody would also considerably help in dispelling the impression about any differences between the civilian and military leadership on the issue of dialogue.
Rustom Shah Mohmand, member of the government committee, found this development very positive. He indicated that more such Taliban detainees would be released in the future and the same was the consensus in the official meetings of the committee.
“There was unanimity that those Taliban detainees against whom there was no evidence and no case, should be released,” Rustom Shah Mohmand said, adding that this would not only resume the talk process but would also help bridge the mistrust between the two sides.
He said that the release of prisoners would also add value to the government committee on whose recommendation this step has been taken by the government.Professor Ibrahim of Jamaat-e-Islami, a member of the Taliban committee, appreciated the government’s move and indicated that in a few days time, the ceasefire would be extended. He said that the two committees were likely to meet on Friday following which the TTP would be contacted for an extension of ceasefire and to further the talks process.
The one-month ceasefire announced by the TTP on March 1 has already expired amid the proscribed organisation’s statement that their non-combatant detainees were not released by the government. They also alleged that several of their detainees were extrajudicially killed in official custody during the same period.
In this scenario, some of the Taliban factions on Wednesday showed aggression and talked about ending the ceasefire. Now after the government’s commendable move, such aggression from within the Taliban factions is expected to cool down.
Political Agent of South Waziristan Islam Zeb was quoted by a foreign news agency as saying that the 19 Taliban detainees were released on April 1. “They are innocent tribals who were arrested during different search operations in South Waziristan in the last two to three years,” Zeb was quoted as saying.
Zeb added that all the released prisoners belonged to the Mehsud tribe, a major Pashtun tribe living in South Waziristan, and added that the names of another 100 prisoners on the Taliban’s list were being processed and would be released in the next few days.
Now the pressure is on the TTP to release the likes of Dr Ajmal, Shahbaz Taseer and Ali Gillani besides announcing the extension of ceasefire for an indefinite period.The release of 19 Taliban detainees from the government custody would also considerably help in dispelling the impression about any differences between the civilian and military leadership on the issue of dialogue.
Rustom Shah Mohmand, member of the government committee, found this development very positive. He indicated that more such Taliban detainees would be released in the future and the same was the consensus in the official meetings of the committee.
“There was unanimity that those Taliban detainees against whom there was no evidence and no case, should be released,” Rustom Shah Mohmand said, adding that this would not only resume the talk process but would also help bridge the mistrust between the two sides.
He said that the release of prisoners would also add value to the government committee on whose recommendation this step has been taken by the government.Professor Ibrahim of Jamaat-e-Islami, a member of the Taliban committee, appreciated the government’s move and indicated that in a few days time, the ceasefire would be extended. He said that the two committees were likely to meet on Friday following which the TTP would be contacted for an extension of ceasefire and to further the talks process.
The one-month ceasefire announced by the TTP on March 1 has already expired amid the proscribed organisation’s statement that their non-combatant detainees were not released by the government. They also alleged that several of their detainees were extrajudicially killed in official custody during the same period.
In this scenario, some of the Taliban factions on Wednesday showed aggression and talked about ending the ceasefire. Now after the government’s commendable move, such aggression from within the Taliban factions is expected to cool down.
Political Agent of South Waziristan Islam Zeb was quoted by a foreign news agency as saying that the 19 Taliban detainees were released on April 1. “They are innocent tribals who were arrested during different search operations in South Waziristan in the last two to three years,” Zeb was quoted as saying.
Zeb added that all the released prisoners belonged to the Mehsud tribe, a major Pashtun tribe living in South Waziristan, and added that the names of another 100 prisoners on the Taliban’s list were being processed and would be released in the next few days.
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