Pak Taliban to consider ceasefire if new govt. 'shows seriousness' to dialogue offer

The Pakistani Taliban, also known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has said that they do not rule out a 'ceasefire' if the new government 'shows seriousness' to their dialogue offer.

The ultraconservative group had also offered 'conditional dialogue' to the previous ruling coalition in February only to withdraw it after they did not receive a 'positive' response, reports The Express Tribune.

TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan has now said that if the incoming government takes the Taliban talks offer seriously, his group will also come up with a positive response.

The incoming prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, said this week that the Taliban's offer for dialogue would be taken seriously.

Ehsan reiterated that the outfit is serious in its dialogue offer, adding that the TTP does not declare a ceasefire now and any such decision would depend on the new government's approach.

He further said that there could be a possibility of stopping attacks as a goodwill gesture once the new government takes some serious steps.