PESHAWAR: Member of the Taliban’s negotiating committee Prof Mohammad Ibrahim has said that formal talks between the government and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have yet to kick off.

Talking to journalists at the Jamaat-i-Islami’s provincial headquarters, he said the negotiation process was under way but formal talks had not started yet which had caused a deadlock. Both the government and the Taliban were responsible for the stalemate, he added.

He said members of the government and the TTP committees should hold meeting with Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif and ISI Director General Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam to understand the military’s point of view on the issue. The army should become part of the peace talks, he added.

Prof Ibrahim said he did not have confirmed reports about the release of non-combatant prisoners by the army. However, he added, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had confirmed the release of 19 prisoners.

The outlawed TTP has demanded release of 300 non-combatants, including women and children.

Prof Ibrahim asked the government and the TTP to show sincerity to make the dialogue process successful.