|
. | . |
|
by Staff Writers Islamabad (AFP) April 05, 2014
Pakistan will release another 13 Taliban prisoners as a "goodwill gesture" to help ongoing peace talks with militants, the interior minister said Saturday. The announcement came after the Pakistani Taliban on Friday extended a ceasefire by six days, stating they were doing so to allow the government more time to meet their demands of releasing "non-combatant" prisoners and pulling back soldiers. "The government has decided to release 13 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture," Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters after meeting Taliban and government peace committees. He urged the Islamists to reciprocate, calling for the release of a senior academic -- Professor Mohammad Ajmal -- as well the sons of slain former Punjab governor Salman Taseer and former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, and some foreigners and government employees. "The other side should also reciprocate and release non-combatants," Khan said, adding that the talks would bring peace into country. The government began negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) through intermediaries in February to try to end the Islamists' bloody seven-year insurgency. The umbrella militant group had demanded the release of what they called "non-combatant" prisoners and the establishment of a "peace zone" where security forces would not be present. Last month the Taliban handed over a list of 300 people including women, children, and old men, seeking their release. On Wednesday, the government handed over 19 tribesmen based in South Waziristan, calling them "non-combatant Taliban prisoners". But militia's spokesman denied the men had been sought by them or were its members. Khan noted that the attacks had "considerably reduced" since the start of peace talks with TTP, and said the peace process had entered a new phase. "By the time the next round of direct talks is held next week, the number of released prisoners will reach around 30," Khan said. Sami-ul-Haq, a member of the Taliban negotiating committee which attended Saturday's session, told reporters that a government meeting with the Taliban Shura (council) was likely to take place in the next two to three days. "Government is talking all possible measures for the success of peace talks and both sides want durable peace in the country," Haq said. The peace talks were a key campaign pledge for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif before he was elected to office for a third time last year.
Related Links News From Across The Stans
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. |