Pakistan government likely to include militarily in peace talk team

A top security service member is most likely to be included in the Pakistan government's new peace team to engage the Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leadership in a constructive and positive peace dialogue, a media report said.

The existing peace team will either be completely replaced with a new team or continue with some changes, The Nation reported Monday citing source.

The report said some think-tanks of the Pakistan government have advised direct contact with the Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) with a new team.

They have also advised that at least one top official from a premier Pakistani state security service should be included in the peace talks team.

According to Rustam Shah Mohmand, a senior government peace committee member, military forces have strong contacts in the tribal region since long and the military's direct involvement in the dialogue process with the TTP will prove helpful in securing durable peace.

Mohmand added that the TTP had demanded in the past the involvement of the military in the dialogue process because they felt that it would help ensure full implementation of the agreement.

When asked for a direct reply regarding replacement of the existing team with a new one, Mohmand said: "The situation has changed after the TTP's unconditional ceasefire; the government could adopt a new track to engage the Taliban leadership in the renewed process. However, I and other members of the existing peace committee are ready to continue playing our role for peace."

He said it was not important which individuals negotiate peace with the TTP but what was important was to achieve peace.

Mohmand also proposed that the TTP leadership be brought to political mainstream after the success of dialogue.

When asked about the attack on the polio team in Khyber Agency the very day the TTP announced its ceasefire, he said that it might be the action of Lashkar-e-Islam or Ansar-ul-Islam, and they were not related to TTP.

The report said the government would pump in heavy funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the tribal region once the peace talks succeed and political administration was fully restored.

However, the security services, through the TTP peace messengers, conveyed to the Taliban leadership in a strong message that either they declared unconditional ceasefire for resuming the talks with the state or be ready to evaporate into thin air.

Following the development, the TTP announced a month-long unconditional ceasefire March 1.