ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday said it has reached to an agreement with banned Tahreek e Taliban Pakistan (TPP) to bring in a complete ceasefire.
Information minister, Fawad Hussain Chaudhary, briefed the media here on outcome of talks between Pakistan and banned TTP that led subsequent to a truce. According to the details, as a result of truce, TTP will stop attacks on Pakistan’s security forces and other public places.
Fawad Chaudhary said talks with TTP , which were referred by prime minister, Imran Khan, in his interview on October 1, 2021 were held in Afghanistan. Information minister said talks with banned TTP were being held within the constitution of Pakistan.
“Its crystal clear that none of Pakistan governments could talk with any group including banned TTP in violation of the constitution of Pakistan”, Fawad Chaudhary asserted.
The minister said as a result of interim Afghan government sponsored talks, TTP had agreed to a complete ceasefire and therefore it will not attack on Pakistan’s security forces in the future.
Pakistan’s top officials were engaged in talks with banned TTP in Afghanistan for the last over one month. The Afghan government facilitated talks between Pakistan and banned TTP. Fawad Chaudhary said Pakistan will ensure that banned TTP accepts and honour supermacy of the constitution of Pakistan. He welcomed progress in Pakistan’s talks with banned TTP as , in his views, it hints at establishing peace in Pakistan.
Pakistan wanted extradition of banned TTP leadership from Afghanistan and wanted to bring it to the court of law for justice. It had handed over a list of wanted TTP terrorists to interim Afghan government and demanded their handing over to Pakistan. The Afghan government assured Pakistan to use its good offices to sort out the issue through talks. However, the interim Afghan government had assured Pakistan of military action if TTP does not come to an agreement on its terms.
Banned TTP had been using Afghanistan as a base to attack on Pakistan’s security agencies, schools and other public places.
The opposition strongly opposed any kind of talks with banned TTP
Pakistan People Party (PPP) chairman, Balawal Bhutto, strongly opposed the very basic idea of talks with banned TTP. He said banned TTP was involved in killing of innocent political leadership, school kids, public at large and security forces of Pakistan and there was no point in having any agreement with it.
Ahsin Iqbal of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) said the government should not have talks with those who attacked Pakistan.
