Taliban demand reduction in army activities in NWA

ISLAMABAD: Member of the Taliban committee Prof Ibrahim said on Wednesday the Taliban had alleged that troops, helicopters and artillery were being deployed in North Waziristan and the outlawed group had demanded that this activity be contained.

He said that arrangements for holding the peace talks were underway and he had contacted Taliban Shura member Azam Tariq in order to decide a time and place to hold the talks.He dispelled the impression that the talks process was approaching a deadlock or that distances were increasing between the two sides.

Ibrahim said the Taliban had objections not only overthe movement of the army but also on the use of helicopters and mortar shells. It may be noted here that three people, including a security personnel, were killed when a vehicle of the army hit a landmine some days ago. Following the incident, the army had targeted the hideouts of militants with three helicopters.

In a meeting on April 23, both the government and the TTP committees decided to form a sub-committee to address the reservations of all stakeholders and Maulana Yousaf Shah was working over it, he maintained.

He said the government and the army were on the same page but not on the same line on the issue of talks with the Taliban. “It is said that the government and military are on the same page. If so, we accept it. But some people say they are on the same page but not on the same line,” he said addressing a ceremony here and later talking to media men on Wednesday.

“Too many efforts were made for an extension in the ceasefire but success could not be achieved because the Taliban and government were facing certain difficulties,” he said. He said the Taliban should stop targeting the army and other security agencies while the army should end the war against the Taliban because, according to him, this was a war between two brothers. “We have our relatives in the army as well as in the Taliban. Peace will prevail in the country if both sides stop targeting each other,” he said.

If someone has reservations on the matter of release of prisoners, he should lodge a complaint with the government rather than the media, he said adding if all the stakeholders took part in direct negotiations, then a solution to the problems could be found.

He stated that the Taliban will accept the Constitution if the implementation process of Islamic clauses of the Constitution was started. He held that the statement given by him with reference to Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif had given rise to certain misperceptions. “I hold PM Nawaz Sharif in high esteem. The PM is playing a vital and positive role in talks with Taliban. But whenever a mention is made anywhere about terrorism, Musharraf is also named there. It is but natural that one becomes emotional when such matters come and one’s tongue slips. Perhaps such thing has happened with me. But it is crystal clear that the country is in a mess due to Pervez Musharraf who put the country on the verge of destruction and allowed the tyrannical US troops to pass through,” he added. He added: “If Musharraf goes abroad, then we will seek an explanation from PM Nawaz Sharif at all costs.”