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PESHAWAR: Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Shahidullah Shahid on Friday said the Taliban were ready for talks despite the fact that the recent bombardment in North Waziristan was proof of the government's insincerity, DawnNews reported.
Speaking to journalists at an undisclosed location, the spokesman added that the war has been started by the government and it should also take the lead on a ceasefire.
A day before the TTP’s latest statement, dozens of militants, mostly Uzbek fighters, were killed as air force jets and army’s helicopter gunships carried out punitive strikes against terrorist hideouts in the tribal regions of North Waziristan and Khyber.
The attacks in North Waziristan and Khyber followed the breakdown in government’s talks with the Pakistani Taliban in the aftermath of TTP Mohmand chapter’s claim of killing 23 Frontier Corps soldiers and the death of a major in an attack on an army vehicle near Peshawar.
Speaking to reporters today, Shahid said the Taliban were aiming to resolve issues through talks whereas the government was more focused on establishing its writ and the supremacy of the Constitution, which he said did not have a single element reflecting Islamic injunctions.
He said the TTP was serious about the dialogue, adding that the negotiators representing it were more independent than those representing the government.
Speaking to media representatives later, Professor Ibrahim Khan of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), who is also a negotiator for the TTP, said the Constitution was based on the injunctions of Islam and democratic in spirit.
Khan said the constitution had been signed by key religious figures, adding that he would comment on Shahid’s statement if the subject is later brought up by the TTP's political shura.
The JI leader called for the implementation of Islamic system in the country as laid down in the Constitution.
He said the Taliban negotiation committee would convince the TTP leadership to accept the Constitution after its implementation in letter and spirit.
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On DawnNews
Comments (41) Closed
Feb 21, 2014 03:13pm
No no no. TTP should surrender their arms first and then we will talk.
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Feb 21, 2014 03:41pm
No ceasefire until TTP agree and insure that they or their sub groups won't carry any attack for at least next 90 days (Probation) on Pakistani soil otherwise the operation will continue and gain momentum as per requirement
Regards
Son of Soil
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Feb 21, 2014 03:53pm
Yes, we can start negotiations when a handful of you are alive!
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Feb 21, 2014 04:04pm
Constitution is not as per Islamic code, but the acts of these barbarians is according to that. Stop misleading please. The Govt must act now and if it didn't then we are going to have it.
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Feb 21, 2014 04:09pm
I'm following the Dawn news on daily basis on almost all topics.
The peace talk between the Pakistan government and Taliban is at the moment going no where, except for the frustration of innocence people.
In my opinion Pakistan army should take strong action against Taliban to put complete end to their barbaric activities.
Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal masjid's horrible comment that Taliban has 500 sucide bombers is very shameful, and he is suppose to be leading prayers.
Allah Almighty give peace for Pakistan and all my prayers for Pakistan Army. I stand with army.
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Feb 21, 2014 04:36pm
TTP can go to hell. Can I please urge everyone to stop calling them TTP and just Taliban. They have nothing to do with Pakistan and are in fact Zaliman acting on forigen agendas.
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Feb 21, 2014 04:59pm
@Khalid:
The Govt should go after the Taliban.A few thousand of These crooks
Cannot hold the Pakistani State at ransom.
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Feb 21, 2014 05:24pm
No more talks. Time to eliminate these criminals. Civilians and the Armed forces must defend the Constitution of Pakistam.
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Feb 21, 2014 05:28pm
No Talks with TTP, Pakistan Army should wipe them out before they play football with other Pakistani's Head
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Feb 21, 2014 05:30pm
Ab aya hai oonth pahar ke neechay :) Military action dekh kar phati hai TTP ki. Pak Army should not stop now, please continue the armed action against these barbarians, and finish it up for good.
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Feb 21, 2014 05:34pm
@Khalid:
"No no no. TTP should surrender their arms first and then we will talk."
Yes, Yes, Yes. I agree with you 110%!!
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Feb 21, 2014 05:54pm
@ true Pakistan..I agree ttp is not appropriate. just call them a brutal group of terrorists.
If they do not accept our constitution, they should go to hell. we should not waste time in talks with these uncivilized people. Pak army I love you. please fast the action against these culprits so Pak may prosper and focus other major issues .
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Feb 21, 2014 06:10pm
"phhlay aap, pehlay aap" and you miss the train (Lucknow proverb). These barbarians are certainly not that sophisticated. They are devious and not at all trustworthy. They were never serious in dialogue and shift their narrative whenever convenient. They only deserve one thing. Danda!
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Feb 21, 2014 06:14pm
At what agenda Pakistan should negotiatie with Taliban, is that they are friend of USA so are other muslim countries, is that they want to implement Sharia laws in Pakistan. its a free country and everyone have equal rights to practise own religion. Its a muslim state and as being a muslim we have ample space in our hearts to accept minorities. Long Live Pakistan
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Feb 21, 2014 06:23pm
Time to go for the Kill, no more talks with TTP
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Feb 21, 2014 06:33pm
I wonder how TTP leaders present their case so logically, and yet a part of their mind is so primitive that they insist on enforcing a so called SHARIA that could only belong to the most ignorant barbaric people.
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Feb 21, 2014 06:46pm
No more talks plzzz , they are just trying to buy some time so that they can re-allocate them self to safe place. Its time to clean up the mess.
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Feb 21, 2014 07:01pm
TTP surrender your arms and face the law in courts. That should be the only way forward.
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Feb 21, 2014 07:01pm
Govt of pakistan should not accept demands of these brutal people.If govt does now,later they will come with more serious ones,and this will cont untill and unless they (taliban) are vanished from the holyland of pakistan.
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Feb 21, 2014 07:04pm
Amazes me how TTP will brush off the beheading of captive soldiers as though it was inconsequential and place blame squarely on the govt - pretty good sign of the mental attitude of these thugs and exactly why they have never honored any of the prior agreements.
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Feb 21, 2014 07:16pm
What a cruel joke by TTP ? Sincerely hope that the civilian govt does not fall into this death trap again and continues the decisive operations.
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Feb 21, 2014 07:37pm
All they are trying to do is to buy some more time to regroup. Time is their greatest weapon. More time they would get more they would multiply and take advantage of lawlessness, high inflation and unemployment.
On the other hand a more concerted effort needs to be made to eradicate not the smokescreen attacks that we have been observing recently. A well thought out operation needs to be carried out.
Army has always dominated the internal and external affairs especially security and foregn policy. Army is just looking for a way out by using these once in a while attacks as a bargaining chip. Where is the Army's muscle to flush these guys out.
We need to cut whatever gangrene infested limbs we have developed within to have a prolonged life, otherwise Good Bye Pakistan!!
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Feb 21, 2014 08:05pm
The phase for talks is over. The military operation must be taken to its logical end and that is total annihilation of terror and terrorists from the homeland.
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Feb 21, 2014 08:06pm
Folks, Keep writing directly to ISPR and the Govt of Pakistan and give them strength to do the right thing. There should be no amnesty this time to the leadership and the recruiters of these terrorists. Operation should be to capture them dead or alive and offer amensty and rehab to common followers who lay down arms and willing to reform.
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Feb 21, 2014 08:25pm
@Idealist:
Its sheer nonsense, giving ninety days time to them to stop all their activities. This is what TTP wants so that they can regroup and come with a bigger force. Pakistan army should keep attacking them till their own get so fed up and frustrated that they start fighting among their own TTP and keep their heads down for atleast 50 years.
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Feb 21, 2014 08:32pm
Too little, too late, Talib; for the last 4+ months,since the APC had announced consensus agreement to hold peace-negotiations with you guys, the Taliban policy has been to raise the ante' and decided to soften the civilian and military/security personnel targets to extract greater political advantage from these negotiations, but now we have had enough of you guys dictating to us and we want our air force to 'soften you guys' until you prove that ceasefire will hold and return our prisoners or alternatively drop your weapons (with JI or JUI (F), as your mediators and supporters), before resumption of peace-negotiations (as the Irish did against the British), as you have broken promises in the past and cannot be trusted again ('once bitten twice shy'), as the saying goes!
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Feb 21, 2014 09:05pm
The shameless behavior of Shahidullah Shahid and his gang to talk about Islam and peace when doing everything that Islam forbids such as murder of innocent people, suicide bombing, hiding in rat holes and not showing themselves who they are is clear proof that they are gangsters and they cannot be trusted. Government of Pakistan must deal with them as enemies of Pakistan in accordance with constitution and laws of Pakistan with full use of force. Absolutely no dialogue with them.
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Feb 21, 2014 09:33pm
Nothing works like the rod of Musa to bring the misguided to the table.
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Feb 21, 2014 09:40pm
See when Army take action TTP are changing their statements and NOW TTP are welling to Talk. Well it's too late. Please Gen. Sharif, please don't stop the action you all have started. Wiping out TTP is the only solution or they surrender and go through legal path to get punished what they did to People of Pakistan. I think that they all should get DEATH Penalty specially Shahid Ullah Shahid First cause he is the leader for TTP. I want Gen. Sharif to watch the Video on YOUTUBE which TTP had posted after they killed our FCC personnel. That Video will tell Gen. Sharif how ruthless these TTP people are. Plus Gen. Sharif also watch the Video of SSP CID Karachi Chaudary Aslam death. And see how can you forget what TTP did. All honestly, I will not cease fire if I was the Gen. of Army Staff. Sir, TTP are a big Cancer MOLE to our Pakistan. TTP want to force our people and govt. to bow down to them. Gen. Sharif you are responsible for peace in our country, I beg you don't stop this action. It is scaring TTP. If I were you, I will wipe out North Waristan from Pakistan map. In that area, everyone is Militant (all them are from different countries not even Pakistani) and these Militants live behind Women and Children to blame everyone for Drone attack.
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Feb 21, 2014 09:53pm
TTP is in a state of war. Islam also forbade to use innocent civilians as a human shield at the time of war. TTP is hiding among the civilians, putting their lives in danger by, directly or indirectly, using them as a human shield. What TTP is, or has been, doing is also un-Islamic as well as unethical. In earlier times, Sahaba did not hide behind innocent children or women! Ghazvaat were fought in the open, away from civilian harm. The whole fight of TTP is not Sharia' compliant. How can they fight for the cause of Islam in an unislamic way?
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Feb 21, 2014 09:56pm
Well done Pakistan Army.Handful of old age junglee Savages have no business to talk to civilized people S.weep them allout of Pakistan and take out all of them from their RAT HOLES.and as for the terrorist Taliban of Lal Masjid,he should be removed from there because he is poisoning the brains of other Namazis.I salute the Armed forces of Pakistan.
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Feb 21, 2014 10:09pm
@Khalid:
Keep on going army don't look back until job done insha Allah
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Feb 21, 2014 10:20pm
Put Fazlullah and this guy Shahid terrorist behind bars first. Then Pak army should clean up N. Waziristan completely. Then we will talk!
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Feb 21, 2014 10:48pm
Find Fazullah and bring him back to Swat and try him for his atrocities with people of Swat and then punish him. Of course if he is still alive.
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Feb 21, 2014 10:59pm
Actually TTP is a balloon filled with air by snakes up in sleeves now all are exposed better for TTP throw weapons and returned their sweet homes.
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Feb 22, 2014 12:47am
@Khalid:Government was serious and talking to TTP. They continued their violence and now must face the consequences. There is no question of any further dialogues with these cruel Talibans.
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Feb 22, 2014 03:00am
Agree with every single comment that this is no time for ceasefire. It only took a single day of bombardment, and these goons are calling for peace. By a rough count, these butchers have been at it for over 10 years (or over 3650 days) killing Pakistanis all over and they are still not done. There is a lot of payback left until we talk about ceasefire.
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Feb 22, 2014 11:09pm
no talk with TTP, keep killing TTP till peace. we want to live or die.
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Feb 23, 2014 10:08am
We do not negotiate with terrorists, their sympathizers and their agents.
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Feb 23, 2014 01:46pm
Don't trust these hypocrites. When the government stops they will start. They are murderers.
What Sharia for these killers of the innocent people. They should be totally wiped out. Don't relax, finish the job you have started for the sake of Pakistanis and the entire Muslim nation all over the world!
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Feb 24, 2014 10:35am
I support Imran Khan on talks because the real issue is not terrorism....real issue is which form of shariah to accept....Pakistanis have chosen the Arabic way of life...now its just which arabic...Only way is to sit and speak about it...or why dont you partition yourself again to another 10 pieces more jinnahs should rise from among pakistanis...IK has potential to be one
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