Pakistan peace negotiations suspended

ISLAMABAD (Pajhwok): Members of the Pakistani government committee suspended peace talks with representatives of militants on Tuesday after a string of deadly attacks in the country.

At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the committee expressed its inability to continue negotiations with representatives of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP).

It argued the talks would not yield any progress without solid steps, asking the Taliban to unconditionally cease violent activities.

A statement from the Prime Minister House said the government committee informed Sharif that several acts of violence had taken place killing a number of people during the 13-day process.

On February 13, a TTP-claimed explosion in the port city of Karachi killed 13 police commandos. The other day, the group killed 23 kidnapped paramilitary troops in Mohmand tribal region.

As a result of the deadly incidents, the committee unanimously decided that holding the scheduled talks with the Taliban was an exercise in futility.

Also on Tuesday, TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid said various rebel groups had been contacted on a ceasefire. A decision would be made soon, he said, adding the TTP was taking the negotiations seriously.

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