Taliban committee says talks should continue

AKORA KHATTAK: The committee nominated by the Taliban met here on Monday to discuss the situation following the killing of 23 FC personnel by the Mohmand Agency Taliban.

Speaking to the media, committee coordinator Mualana Yousaf Shah said a ceasefire had almost been reached. He added that the dialogue process should continue.

Another member of the committee, Professor Ibrahim expressed regret that the government committee considered them Taliban. His statement was in reaction to the refusal of the government committee to meet following the killing of FC personnel. Professor Ibrahim said the committee would not defend the criminal acts of the Taliban.

Earlier, the government committee cancelled a planned meeting with the Taliban committee. Government committee coordinator Irfan Siddiqui said gruesome acts such as the killing of 23 FC personnel would cast a negative impact on the dialogue process.

Siddiqui informed the media that a meeting of the government committee would be held on Tuesday and deliberate on the future course of action.

The Taliban claimed the killing of 23 FC personnel in custody was in reaction to the custodial killings of their members by security forces. The Taliban claim was dismissed by security forces who said that the militant outfit was leveling baseless allegations to justify their killings.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the killing of FC personnel would have a negative impact on the dialogue process.