Taliban 'shura' reluctant to meet govt team in N Waziristan

A Taliban negotiating committee member today said the banned group's 'shura' was reluctant to meet the government team in North Waziristan Agency.
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ibrahim Khan said there is an agreement between the Pakistani Taliban's faction Gul Bahadur group and the government in North Waziristan due to which the 'shura' is reluctant to hold a meeting there.
He termed his committee's meeting with the Tehrik-e- Taliban (TTP) 'shura' as encouraging and said positive outcome has been achieved.
The Taliban negotiating committee member said arrangements were being made for a meeting between the TTP 'shura' and the government team.
Meanwhile, the Taliban negotiating committee headed by Maualana Samiul Haq called on Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan here.

The Taliban team briefed Nisar about their meeting with the TTP shura.

The Interior Minister assured the Taliban committee of cooperation for moving forward with the peace process.
He also appreciated the efforts of the talks committee.
"The government is making efforts sincerely for the success of dialogue process," Nisar said.
Haq said he was optimistic that bilateral contacts would pave way for peace in the country.
Peace talks between the government and the Taliban struck an impasse last month after a faction of the militant group killed 23 kidnapped Pakistani para-military soldiers.
The killings resulted in multiple targeted airstrikes by the military against militant hideouts in the tribal region of the northwest.

The Taliban then announced a one-month ceasefire which was reciprocated by the government that halted its airstrikes.
The government has formed a new four-member committee to mediate with the Taliban's negotiating team.