TTP decides not to extend ceasefire

PESHAWAR: The outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced on Wednesday its decision to not extending the ceasefire and said that the government had failed to respond positively to the militant organisation's ceasefire of more than 40 days. TTP spokesman, Shahidullah Shaihid, said that the Taliban shura had decided not to extend the ceasefire becuase more than 50 of their activists were killed in custody during the past 40 days and added that the justifiable demands of the militant organisation were not met. Shahid however said that the Taliban would be willing to hold meaningful dialogue if the government was ready for serious talks. Moreover, the TTP Mohmand Agency chief, Umer Khalid Khurasani, also issued a statement in which he had said that government was not serious about peace and the only way to implement true Shariah was jihad. Earlier on March 1, the TTP had announced a month-long ceasefire breaking a deadlock that was reached between mediating teams of the government and Taliban committee. Within 24 hours of the ceasefire announcement, the government had also made public its decision to halt air strikes on militant hideouts.