The Pakistan government negotiators today agreed on an undisclosed location to hold direct peace talks with the Taliban soon to find a way to end the decade-long insurgency.
"The process of talking directly to the Taliban will start in two to three days, both sides have agreed on the venue", Samiul Haq, a negotiator for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), told reporters.
"Both sides are showing flexibility and a willingness for success of the talks," he said.
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His remarks came following a two hour-long meeting between the Taliban team and the government's new negotiators. The meeting at the Punjab House here was chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
Haq said the discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere. He said the location would be declared a "peace zone" but did not reveal what would be the exact venue of the shura or council meeting.
The government had been reluctant to accept locations suggested by the TTP due to safety concerns, whereas the TTP had expressed apprehensions of being targeted by security forces in areas suggested by the government.
According to media reports, the possible venues for the meeting include the little-known Shaktu area in South Waziristan Agency and Frontier Region Bannu.
Another member of the committee, Maulana Yousuf Shah, said that today's meeting between the two committees were an important breakthrough. "The nation would soon hear good news," he said.
The Interior Minister told a press conference yesterday that direct talks between the government committee and Taliban Shura would begin in a few days.
A sensitive phase of the peace process was about to start and it would bring to an end all misgivings and misconceptions, he said.
Khan indicated that a month-long ceasefire announced by the TTP would continue beyond the March 31 deadline but did not elaborate. He warned of action against elements conspiring to sabotage the peace process.
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.
Since the dialogue was launched to end the nearly decade-long insurgency that has claimed some 40,000 lives, observers have expressed scepticism that it would lead to lasting peace.
