MIRAMSHAH: A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban on Saturday denied media reports that the group was holding peace talks with the government.

Shahidullah Shahid, spokesman for the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), said no contacts had been made between the group and any government official.

“I categorically deny the holding of peace talks on any level between the Taliban and Pakistan government,” Shahid said with reference to reports that backchannel negotiations were under way between the PML-N and TTP.

“No contacts have even been made between us, nor have we received any offer to initiate peace talks,” Mr Shahid added. “It is complete propaganda, the government must make it public if it has any proof of any such talks.”

The TTP spokesman was reacting to remarks made by Information Minister Pervez Rashid on Friday. “Unofficial talks between the government side and Taliban are in progress,” the minister told Dawn.

According to Mr Rashid, the government’s main objective was to restore peace and it would do everything possible to achieve that. “We have to rid the country of the menace of terrorism for which all options will be utilised.”

The reports of peace talks emerged almost two weeks after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made an offer to militants in his first address to the nation since taking office in June.—AFP