Pak Taliban criticise peace talks delay by Nawaz govt

The Pakistan Taliban has condemned the Nawaz government representatives for failing to meet them in Islamabad for preliminary peace talks.

The talks got delayed as the government side had asked for clarification about the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) team.

According to the BBC, the government and Taliban representatives had been due to start charting a 'roadmap' for talks.

The Taliban made clear there were to be no additions to their team and urged the government side to begin talks.

There are questions over the composition of the two teams. The Taliban have refrained from naming a committee from within their own ranks, and have instead named religious figures who want Sharia (Islamic law) in the country, the report said.

According to the report, the government representatives are also at one remove from the administration. All have close knowledge of the Taliban and good contacts with them.

Taliban negotiator Ibrahim Khan said his side had been waiting for the talks to start throughout Tuesday and had not backed out.

Government negotiator and veteran journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai said his side had no objections to meeting with the Taliban after getting clarifications about the composition of the Taliban team.