Pak-Taliban peace talks deferred due to inclement weather

The much-anticipated direct peace talks between the Pakistan government and the Taliban were postponed today due to hostile weather conditions.
The government committee and the Taliban liaison committee members were set to leave for North Waziristan in a helicopter this morning to start the formal talks with the Taliban Shura, but they had to abandon their plan.
As soon as the weather turns favourable, the committees will proceed for the talks to find a solution to end the decade-long insurgency that has claimed some 40,000 lives, said Taliban liaison committee member Professor Ibrahim Khan.
Ibrahim said he is ready to go by road, but it is not advisable for all members.

He said the banned militant outfit has not demanded implementation of Shariah, but they have proposed release of their non-combatant prisoners. It will be good for both the sides to release each other's non-combatant prisoners, he said.
He said the with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has assured they will take steps to convince other groups involved in terror activities to join the process.

During the talks, the government would push the TTP to release the abducted sons of former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilan and slain Punjab Governor Salman Taseer. They would also seek Islamia College University Vice Chancellor Ajmal Khan's recovery.

Yesterday, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had said that government's dialogue committee is scheduled to travel to North Waziristan tribal region today for the talks.
Speaking to reporters in Hague, he had said the government has started peace talks with sincerity and the process will enter an important phase with the direct talks.
The talks struck an impasse last month after a faction of the banned militant group killed 23 kidnapped Pakistani para-military soldiers, resulting in multiple targeted airstrikes by the military against militant hideouts in the tribal region of the northwest.
The Taliban then announced a month-long ceasefire which was reciprocated by the government.

The government is optimistic that the banned group would extend the ceasefire.