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.