Govt-TTP talks to discuss recovery of Shahbaz Taseer, Haider Gilani

Dawn.com Published March 24, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Rustam Shah, one of the state-committee’s members for peace talks with Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), said Monday that the government had completed its homework for pursuing talks with the banned militant organisation, DawnNews reported.

Rustam added that the government team was planning to hold direct talks with the Taliban tomorrow and had the weather not turned for the worse, then the meeting could have taken place today.

He said the government had also prepared its list of demands.

Sources told DawnNews that the government would negotiate the recovery of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son Syed Ali Haider Gilani, Shahbaz Taseer, the son of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer and Ajmal Khan.

Meanwhile, the Taliban committee’s representative Professor Ibrahim said he was in continuous contact with the government’s negotiators.

He said the date for holding talks would be finalised today.

Earlier, the TTP had proposed its stronghold of North Waziristan as the venue, while the government wanted to hold talks in Bannu.

Pakistan

Ali Haider Gilani, son of former PM, kidnapped

Slain Salman Taseer’s son kidnapped

Musa

Mar 24, 2014 01:17pm

Ofcourse the RICH and FAMOUS! Who will talk about 50000 Pakistanis? and take action?

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Amir Bangash

Mar 24, 2014 01:30pm

It is the height of cruelty. Shahbaz Taseer remains in the custody of terrorists after the assassination of his father. Those who murdered his father are considered to have fought a holy war.

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trevor

Mar 24, 2014 01:44pm

Hope govt will remain sincere this time

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khanm

Mar 24, 2014 02:51pm

It is a clear cut indication, the entire government agencies/ apparatus have failed to find a clue of MR Taseer and Jilani

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Shafiq Khan

Mar 24, 2014 03:12pm

The Talks/negotiations: if the parties were sincere why are they holding innocent people as hostages ? TTP are not sincere in their aims and will carry on with their nefarious activities irrespective of the results of the talks. They always have an excuse, that it is not their lot who is responsible. How would you have peace if kidnapping like the Haider Gillani can happen during the seize fire period ? End the sham and hold the criminals responsible for their crimes.

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Hassan

Mar 24, 2014 03:34pm

Dialouges with terrorists and murderers. Those who play football with the heads of humans. Those who proudly own the blasts and attacks that have killed scores of people, over 70,000 in total. Those who say that they consider members of shia sects as heretics and would kill them at any cost. Those who target, churches, temples and mosques. Those who whip women in public. Those, who after beheading Pakistanis release the videos of cruel acts with all the pomp and glory. GOOD LUCK PAKISTAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mark my words, Nawaz Sharif & Imran Khan are the worst leaders world could have ever seen, selfish, cowards and myopic.

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Rex Minor

Mar 24, 2014 03:57pm

The purpose of the talks was to talk and know of the Talibans concerns and wants? In exchange for Peace for the country. Are Gillanis and Tasseers are again upfront for preferential treatments? Rex Minor

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Shahid

Mar 24, 2014 04:34pm

WHY are they the priority. What about the professor of Peshawer or so many other unknowns. What decides priority? money or politics. The cursed elite come always first and then they say why people are getting agressive.

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Abdul Malik

Mar 24, 2014 05:57pm

@Musa: Absolutely, the RICH & FAMOUS. Lives of all the poor missing persons have no meaning for these heartless souls. Shame of you Rustam Shah, for having the nerve to even make a statement like this.

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Shigri

Mar 24, 2014 06:46pm

"If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves." W. Churchill

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Mohammed A. Sukhera

Mar 24, 2014 06:51pm

This is very sad to note that 72 years old elderly American Warren Weinstein was not mentioned in the list of demands by the government team. The economic consultant to Pakistani businesses and public sector enterprises under the USAID program was kidnapped more than two years ago from Lahore, Pakistan. The video released by the kidnapers shows that he is in a very poor health. The consultant was a guest of Pakistani government and the state failed to protect him during his stay. The only crime committed by him is that he is an American helping a poor country stand on its feet. He has not done anything against Islam or the Taliban. Our government must do everything in their power for his release so that he can go back to his family and grand children.

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NASAH (USA)

Mar 24, 2014 09:27pm

A must.

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Jawad U Rahman

Mar 24, 2014 10:27pm

For God's sake, please don't let the TTP and their supporters create a moral equivalence between the government holding their criminal prisoners in government custody and these acts of naked terrorism of kidnapping innocent citizens, minorities, and foreigners. There should be NO exchange like that. The government should demand a release of all innocent people UNCONDITIONALLY. Mark my words - the only reason TTP is doing the negotiations is to get their comrades released. Once that is achieved, they will not care for any other give and take. They will never give up their control of the territories, their weapons, and their regressive mindset.

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Ganga Din

Mar 25, 2014 03:15am

Talks haven't started but you have your list of demands, as if the TTP is going to say "Aye Captain", in your case it'll be "Aye Major". Are you negotiating peace in the country or these are negotiations for the release of these two captives? Why not start with unconditional release of every one from both sides. TTP is buying time till all the foreign troops are out of Afghanistan, then they will negotiate with you at the gun point, until then good luck. I see these talks dragging on for months. Those of you who want army to take action, all I can say is that it would simply hasten the disintegration of Pakistan.

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Ganga Din

Mar 25, 2014 03:23am

@Jawad U Rahman: Why should they give up their territories and weapons. When you talk about sending troops, they probably laugh at you and say "bring it on". Pakistan Army is a small potato compared to what they have been fighting for ages. Be cautious. You might regret what you wish for. Let Nawaz Sharif use his pragmatic approach and see what happens. Stop all the rhetoric of sending Pakistani Army.

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Salim A

Mar 25, 2014 06:03pm

Does anyone see these people doing well in the next century. They have lost their argument and the only method left with them is violence to convince people that their way is a better way. The world is not coming to them. Instead the world is trying to get rid of them.

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Salim A

Mar 25, 2014 06:06pm

A country is recognized by the way it treats its common citizens. This article tells us a lot about Pakistan and it culture. Rob the poor to feed the rich.

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NASAH (USA)

Mar 26, 2014 08:32pm

Their immediate release of the sons of Taseer and Gilani MUST be one of the first CBMs for the talks to continue further. It will also demonstrate how sincere the Taliban are fin pursuing the path of negotiations - not continued bloodshed.

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NASAH (USA)

Mar 27, 2014 02:48am

@Ganga Din:The elder of the Bholu Brothers, Nawaz Pehalwan thinks he can bring down Mulla Fazl Pehalwan on the mat with pragmatism -- without even grappling with him -- if you believe that --- you are as much a 'bholu' as Nawaz is.

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