Taliban negotiators authorised to agree on ceasefire: sources

E-Paper | March 17, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has given its negotiators the authority to agree on a ceasefire if the government agrees to halt troop deployment, DawnNews quoted sources as saying.

The authority was delegated to the negotiating body headed by Maulana Samiul Haq in a contact between members of the group with Qari Shakeel, who is heading the nine-member monitoring committee of the TTP.

Shakeel has communicated to the negotiators that if the government stops the deployment of forces, a ceasefire can be agreed upon, DawnNews quoted sources as saying.

The communication also entailed discussion on Taliban militants in government custody as well as those abducted by the TTP.

The state has 43 senior Taliban leaders and some 800 Taliban members as prisoners, Shakeel said, adding that if the government releases Taliban prisoners, the TTP would release those detained by it for their links with the government and security forces.

Shakeel said those being held by the Taliban, including Professor Ajmal, Ali Haider Gilani and Wapda and FC personnel, would be released if the government agrees to release TTP leaders and members.

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Mumbai-Pune Express

Feb 07, 2014 12:40pm

Congratulation to all Pakistani, for TTP's Negotiations on Ceasefire. But for that you've to release their Prisoners which would be difficult for your Government.

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Zia

Feb 07, 2014 12:43pm

I smell rat in Punjab Govt. - things will become clear in the coming days. They have been playing safe into the hands of extremists. All developments have to be watched carefully there could be international repercussions. The Govt's election win was a surprise we must look into the back pages

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Ali

Feb 07, 2014 01:17pm

Those mullahs should be arrested immediately! They are equally involved in killing thousands of Pakistanis. They are representing TTP, isn't that enough evidence? THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY SHARIA LAW!! These bunch of illitrates cannot rule us. There are still a lot of educated pakistani youth that wouldn't let these illiterates to rule the country. This is it- enough is enough! I and every pakistani should come out and fight these TTP and our army should use one big military operation to finish them off. We do not want our coming generation to see and hear anything about the TTP's existsnce. May Allah bless Pakistan and save us all from these evils.

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Haider Afidi

Feb 07, 2014 01:41pm

Pak forces should kill all the Talibans

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ali ahmed

Feb 07, 2014 02:54pm

See these faces...they are the one who were the partners in crime. See these faces, these were silently endorsing the slaughter of innocent Pakistanis...see these faces.....recognize these faces.

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Sanjay

Feb 07, 2014 03:30pm

I wonder whether the things are moving towards a kind of "split" in Pakistan. If the conditions of TTP are agreed, it would mean that some areas in Pakistan will be governed exclusively by Shariat whereas the other areas will be governed by the constitutional law. What do you call this system of a country with two sets of laws?? Will it be applicable to the geographical region alone or to the people i.e. a citizen of Shariat area will be subjected to Sharia law in the other area and vice versa..Strange..

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bkh

Feb 07, 2014 04:20pm

the demand of TTP are reasonable for the following reasons 1. no need to deploy armed forces if the Taliban's (militants) behave as law abiding people 2. Taliban's prisoners be released unless directly connected in flouting the laws of the land and held on suspicion. 3. Sharia laws as modified by the passage of 1500 years are followed by all societies including USA,UK. Pakistan should explain to Taliban's that Pakistan follows Sharia laws

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Naseer

Feb 07, 2014 07:26pm

Negotiations are a complete farce. Taliban only want to get their people released by the governments and then the peace agreement will follow the path of other peace agreements in Swat, etc. Taliban will come out stronger after the peace agreement and will kill many thousands more Pakistanis. Sadly none of our political leaders has the courage or resolve to take any meaningful action. Only person who had the courage and conviction to fight terrorists is being punished for being a sincere and honest leader.

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Akram

Feb 07, 2014 08:10pm

the TTP 'negotiators' have shown their true face, they are traitors to Quaid's Pakistan, and should be treated as such. They are no different to those mullahs who called him Kaffir-e-azam, they follow the same ideology and are just as ignorant.

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Lakhkar Khan

Feb 07, 2014 08:47pm

The Taliban version Shariya law is a fraud. They ALL are murderers. Line them against the wall and shoot them all.

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Roxana R

Feb 07, 2014 08:55pm

@Mumbai-Pune Express: If the prisoners are incarcerated on proper charges, rather than be released, they should be tried and punished if found guilty. Otherwise, if found innocent, release them. They should be no part of negotiations unless you want a trade of one-for-one for any prisoners held by Taliban.

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Pakistani

Feb 07, 2014 09:20pm

I would agree to negotiations based on Islamic Shariah. Nothing wrong with anyone including Taliban to identify gaps between Shariah and Constitution to seriously consider it for review. It is about time Taliban provide a justification for killing innocent human beings in their interpretation of Shariah. Do not make the mistake of pardoning a single Taliban for killing one innocent person or destroying public property. Once the Taliban accept responsibility of a terrorist act, prove them in a court of law and execute them. Pakistanis have the problems of jail break because of slow trials and corrupt law enforcing agencies. That is against Islam and results in killers not getting the justice.

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Khalid

Feb 07, 2014 10:07pm

Don't relent....send in the troopers and 'exterminate all of these terrorists" without mercy.

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Khalid

Feb 09, 2014 05:05am

@bkh: These terrorists have killed 1000s of innocent Pakistanis (civilians and members of the security forces). Each life for a life will get the numbers of TTP down by 1000s. Let us find out the TTP members and do exactly what these terrorists have done with innocent Pakistanis. Isn't it something they preach?. Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth??.

Recommend 0

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