Pakistan Taleban discuss offer of peace talks by Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Senior Pakistani Taleban commanders opened discussions Thursday on how to respond to an invitation from the government on talks to end an insurgency that has killed thousands of people.
Leaders in the Tehreek-e-Taleban (TTP) are expected to continue consultations for several days at an undisclosed location in the semi-autonomous northwest along the Afghan border.
TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud, who was previously reportedly against holding talks with the authorities, is chairing the consultations, two Taleban commanders told AFP.
“We are discussing the overall situation and the government’s offer. We will soon inform the media about our decisions,” TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told AFP.
Earlier this week, he welcomed the offer of peace talks.
“We have taken the government’s offer seriously and commanders are discussing a future plan for proposed peace talks,” one senior Taleban commander told AFP from an undisclosed location.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who took office after winning elections in May, has called for peace talks and on Monday won backing for his policy from Pakistan’s main political parties.
“The shura (decision-making council) is discussing the overall situation. It’s good that all Pakistan leaders have agreed to initiate peace talks,” another TTP commander told AFP.
He called on the military to stop all operations against Taleban fighters in the northwest and called for a halt to US drone strikes, which target Islamist militants on the Afghan border.