Taliban seek release of 300 non-combatants

The Pakistani Taliban have handed over a list of 300 non-combatant prisoners, including women and children, to the government for their release to revive the peace talks and end the decade-long reign of terror.
Taliban negotiating committee member Prof Ibrahim yesterday said a list of 300 Taliban "women and children prisoners" has been given to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
He made the remarks after Defence Minister Khwaja Asif said no woman or child was in the custody of security forces.
Asif had, however, offered that the government would launch a probe if any proof was given. "We will investigate if Taliban's committee comes up a proof about the custody of children and women," he said.

While Pakistan has been facing terror attacks after the then Musharraf government sided with the US in its war on terror following the 9/11 attacks, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has emerged as the main terror group after its formation in 2007.
Meanwhile, briefing Jamaat-e-Islami leaders on the dialogue process, Ibrahim said the withdrawal of forces from the South Waziristan Agency was a proposal, not a demand, put forward by the Taliban.

He added if the withdrawal cannot take place in the entire agency, it should be done in the Laddah and Makeen tehsils.
According to Ibrahim, the release of Shahbaz Taseer and Haider Gilani, sons of Salmaan Taseer and Yousaf Raza Gilani, respectively, would be discussed with the Taliban.

The TTP yesterday said Asif was trying to jeopardise the negotiation process through negative statements.
TTP Spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said if Asif even did not know the exact location and number of secret detention centres in various parts of the country, how he could give exact number and categories of detainees there.
He said security and intelligence forces had established secret detention centres in various parts of the country, including Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA.