Pakistan to free 13 more Taliban prisoners: Nisar
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ISLAMABAD: In a bid to bring an end to the ongoing insurgency in Pakistan, the government has decided to free 13 more Taliban prisoners as a confidence building measure to carry forward its peace initiative, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Saturday.
Speaking to media representatives after chairing a joint meeting of the government and Taliban negotiating committees, he urged the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leadership to reciprocate to the government’s action for the success of peace talks.
Khan said some of those being released by the government were on a Taliban list.
Progress at talks and venue and date for the next round of direct talks between the government team and Taliban were discussed at the joint meeting.
The minister told reporters that next round of talks will be held next week and the number of released prisoner may rise to 30 before that. The government released 19 prisoners earlier this month.
The government is holding talks with the Pakistani Taliban to bring an end to the ongoing insurgency in the country that's killed thousands of people in recent years. Splinter groups have continued their attacks despite the talks.
Meanwhile, Maulana Samiul Haq, head of the TTP coordination committee told media representatives that next round of direct talks with Taliban Shura will take place in a day or two. He hoped for further extension in ceasefire and complete restoration of peace in the country.
The chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-S), who is known as “Father of Taliban” in the West, said real peace talks are yet to commence as ongoing dialogues were only confidence building measures.
Earlier on Friday, the TTP had extended till April 10 the ceasefire earlier announced by it and expressed the hope that the government would reciprocate its ‘gesture’ with positive steps.
The extension came a day after the government had announced that it had released 19 non-combatant Taliban as a goodwill gesture for bolstering the peace process.
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Comments (38) Closed
Apr 05, 2014 09:49pm
Freeing Taliban prisoners without knowing which way the talks are going to be heading -- not a great idea is it.
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Apr 05, 2014 10:13pm
You keep releasing while getting deeper in to Taliban Trap, at the end they will walk away from the talks. If nothing else, they get what they want, i.e. their comrades back that will rejuvenate their recruiting for more. Talibans are lying snakes, don't trust them.
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Apr 05, 2014 10:32pm
$1.5 Billion gift has started to show its colors.
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Apr 05, 2014 10:34pm
Makes so much sense to let TTP PRISONERS out of jail but what does not make sense is that they approved the bail on that 9 month old "would be killer". They let him out knowing he attempted to kill the protector of the society. That 9 month old, as I am typing, is probably terrorizing some other police officer. LaWhori Police please take care of yourselves and don't become the next victim of this heartless, savage 9 month old killer.
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Apr 05, 2014 10:36pm
What nonsense!
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Apr 05, 2014 10:40pm
Thirteen more suicide bombers or coaches to suicide bombers being released in the society.
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Apr 05, 2014 10:52pm
This act is not only a good will gesture but it makes the government look strong and confident. It may be a good idea to keep all these maneuvers secret but who am I to give advice. It just provides fodder of speculation to the media, which can sometimes derail the whole process. Too much transparency is not necessarily a good thing.
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Apr 05, 2014 11:06pm
What is being done from TTP's side to show any goodwill? How long will we, the common man, be sacrificed to keep these barbarians happy?
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Apr 05, 2014 11:21pm
The government of Pakistan needs to grow a backbone at some point in its history. GOP has never negotiated with any nation or group forcefully and based on principal. When George Bush threatened Pakistan after 9/11, they gave in. When Davis (a CIA sub-contractor) killed two ISI agents, the GOP/Army set him free.
It's sad really.
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Apr 05, 2014 11:48pm
For each person released, an equal numbers of those who are in favor of this deal, should be send to Guantanamo bay. This match program should be met by PML-N, PTI, JI, JUI and media Mafia individually. If anyone else is in favor, don't keep quite, just join the band.
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Apr 06, 2014 12:02am
OK they are releasing these Taliban but what is the assurance that they will not strike back?I don't know what current government is thinking i simply fail to understand their logic.
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Apr 06, 2014 12:22am
@Ganga Din:
Terrorism works in Pakistan
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Apr 06, 2014 12:24am
Mr Chwodri Nissar.....can you take that mask off since halloween is a few months away. You are scaring my children.
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Apr 06, 2014 12:25am
@AMIR:
Politically and Economically Who wins that is India
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Apr 06, 2014 12:35am
@AMIR:
As much as your satire almost made sense, your deliberate misspelling of Lahore made you sound quite inappropriate. Next time, use a spell check.
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Apr 06, 2014 12:36am
A goodwill gesture even before the start of any negotiations. Alright, makes a lot of sense.
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Apr 06, 2014 12:55am
Bhutto in his infinite wisdom implemented Islamic laws to please PNA. Where did he ended up? Musharaf agreed to NRO with BB and NS handing power to Zaradri, look at his predicament. Mr. PM, be careful in releasing these criminals. One day, and signs are soon enough, you will regret it. The only question is whether you will end up like Bhutto or Musharaf?
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Apr 06, 2014 01:04am
In 2018 Elections all will be running in elections on PMLN tickets from Punjab. Ameer ul Momneen making his old dream true!
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Apr 06, 2014 01:18am
Is our government slowly and surely inching towards surrendering? Releasing these terrorists is basically allowing more of them to attack us and why would we do that? You know our priorities are messed up, when instead of decreasing their numbers, we are increasing them by releasing those who we had originally caught and stopped from harming us. I think our people have given up hope and have no clue as to what future has for them - surely, they can't count on their leaders - civilian and military to help protect them.
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Apr 06, 2014 01:33am
Big shame for us.Government is at knees before these terrorists. What will they answer to the loved ones those who have been murdered by these barbarians. All good for India.
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Apr 06, 2014 02:02am
The only reason the majority of those favoring negotiations with TTP is because of fear; fear of being killed by the TTP if they dare oppose negotiations in the public domain.
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Apr 06, 2014 02:47am
On what bases these criminals are freed. Are they told to disarm?
Are they not going to attack our citizen and armed forces personal, nation wants to know all this.
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Apr 06, 2014 03:34am
How many innocent people like Mr. Taseer's son that these scoundrels kidnapped have been released in return for the release of these criminals? If this turns out to be what it seems it is - then Ch. Nisar should be fired and replaced by someone who knows what he is doing.
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Apr 06, 2014 03:40am
I was always proud of being a Pakistani. Now I feel ashamed when I see terrorists are being set free and honest leaders like Pervaiz Musharraf and Dr. Tahir Ul Qadri are being persecuted by the courts.
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Apr 06, 2014 04:44am
President Nawaz.............. you are sleeping with the enemy. You are playing with fire, you will get burnt.
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Apr 06, 2014 05:47am
I wish and only wish that Ch. Nisar Ali Khan and Nawaz Sharif will spend one day with the family of the people who were killed by Taliban, Then they might, (I am not sure) understand the pain of what these people are going through every day. How can they release these Killers.
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Apr 06, 2014 05:52am
Shameful and idiotic. As a goodwill gesture to Pakistani citizens. They are in prison for a reason, they killed many citizens and policemen, now you want them to kill more. Next time don't brag about nuclear capacity , world now knows how impotent you are.
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Apr 06, 2014 07:26am
1. They don't have a capability to protect our people...
2. PAK army want to engage afghan TALIBAN again
3. TTP made by NAWAZ group with suport of Saudi... 2004. TTP is the militant force of NAWAZ group which was made against MUSHARRAF, PPP and MQM and specially army who demolished NAWAZ government.
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Apr 06, 2014 07:49am
Nation.......quit comparing Pakistan with India or if whats unfolding is good for India. Look at it this way.....if marathon started in 1947 India has already crossed the finish line and we are distant away on crutches with no finish line in sight.
Permitted DAWN prints it, it is going to rattle some cages. I am saying the way I see it. All gloves are off.
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Apr 06, 2014 09:00am
Chaudhry Saheb, When will the 'government' release hundreds if not thousands of the 'disappeared' Balochs and tell the nation who is/are responsible for murdering, disfiguring and dumping some of them on the wayside -- and in individual ditches and mass graves? When will some authentic representatives of the two Sharifs, Nawaz and Raheel, talk directly with Dr. Allah Nazar, Brahumdagh Bugti and the BSO-Azad leaders???
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Apr 06, 2014 09:52am
When it come to Musharraf that PML N give lecture on rule of law, as per which law PML N is negotiating with terrorist organization and freeing criminals.
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Apr 06, 2014 10:27am
@Naseer:
You shouldn't be ashamed time will tell who is right and who is wrong. Very soon there will be a people
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Apr 06, 2014 10:54am
sounds a good step.... unfortunately Govt has to use force along peace efforts.... Laaaton kat bhooot baaton say nayeen maantey...
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Apr 06, 2014 10:55am
13 more terrorists on the loose. Each one will kill again. PML-N is playing with fire. Pak Army must realize this madness and do their job to clean this threat against the security of Pakistan once and for all.
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Apr 06, 2014 11:04am
Ch. Nisar should think straight. To start with, negotiating with outlaws and terrorists is plain stupid. Nawaz needs to stop this non sense and use the government machine to establish the writ of the Pakistan government
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Apr 06, 2014 11:48am
@Shah:
Why should Pak Army do it? Isn't it an Internal problem and Police must be trained to handle. Army should not be involved in our domestic problems. Secondly, even if they do, it must be done on directions of Federal Govt. If Mr Sharif wants to negotiate and free Taliban, he has authority to do it, which we, The People have given him. If we don't like his handling of Taliban, we can vote him out in next elections.
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Apr 06, 2014 05:09pm
we tremble for our country when we hear of confidence expressed in our government . we know too well their weakness, that why we only rest our hopes is in God. And that is the biggest sign of our desperation and hopelessness cos we really failed to do our job in the first place. May God help us..
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Apr 07, 2014 05:04am
19 Taliban already released -- another 13 to be released NOW?
How many 'prisoners' aka kidnapped Pakistanis the Treacherous Taliban have released?
Zilch, Zero?
Who is the criminal here the Taliban or the government? The interior ministry under Nisar has been reduced to a door mat for the Taliban. Concessions after concessions with no reciprocity from the Taliban. Nisar days are numbered, Never in the history of Pakistan the Interior ministry has been so demeaned so weakened as it is now.
The Taliban are in the driver's seat of the Pakistan Interior Ministry.
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