May 04, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 27, 1429

KHAR, May 3: The Taliban have blamed the government’s “inflexibility” for the lack of progress in negotiations.

Talks between the government and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had stalled early this week after Baitullah Mehsud accused the government of refusing to withdraw troops from tribal areas and Swat.

TTP spokesman Maulvi Umar told Dawn on phone from an unspecified place that his outfit had kept the doors open for a meaningful dialogue with the government.

“Taliban believe only in meaningful dialogue and don’t want to waste time in rhetoric,” he said, adding that a government-sponsored jirga had approached Baitullah Mehsud to resume the talks, but he refused.

“We have informed the jirga that unless our basic demands are met, we will not resume the dialogue,” Maulvi Umar said.

The TTP has demanded withdrawal of army troops from Waziristan, Darra Adamkhel and Swat district. But, according to the Taliban, the government had refused to accept the demand.

The spokesman said the government and Taliban had been negotiating for the past three months. “We don’t want to repeat such things.”

He said the coalition government in the NWFP had not yet contacted the TTP for restoration of peace in the province.