Release of 12 Taliban prisoners likely

PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has approved release of 12 people from detention as part of the so-called confidence-building measures to resume peace talks with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), credible sources told Dawn. They said the 12 “low profile suspected militants” held by security agencies could be released in next couple of days to meet a key demand of the Taliban. The TTP leadership had handed over a list of combatants to the government negotiating team. “None of those to be released are important,” the sources said. They said the talks could resume soon after the prime minister’s return from China. Fawad Hassan, additional secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, who is accompanying the premier during his visit to China, is part of the government’s team holding dialogue with the Taliban. The government, however, has not agreed to the TTP’s demand of declaring a peace zone in South Waziristan to facilitate their movement. According to the TTP, the peace zone could serve as a possible rendezvous for talks between the two sides. The sources said the talks would again be held at Bulandkhel in Thal district on the border with North Waziristan. Jamaat-i-Islami leader and member of the TTP’s negotiating team Prof Mohammad Ibrahim has said that talks are near-deadlocked and appealed to both sides to show flexibility. A month-long ceasefire that was extended by the TTP for 10 days expired on April 10. The TTP said it would review the situation at its Shura meeting. The outlawed group has accused the government of violating what it called terms of ceasefire and said that during the truce its men were arrested, tortured and killed by government forces. The peace process faces uncertainty also because of clashes between rival groups of militants in South Waziristan. The clashes between groups led by Khan Said alias Sajna and Sheryar Mehsud have left scores dead from both sides. The fighting between the groups loyal to the late Waliur Rehman and Hakeemullah Mehsud prompted senior militants and the influential Haqqani Network to intervene and broker a ceasefire deal. The two group are reportedly fighting for the control of highland in Mehsud part of South Waziristan.