Eleven member jirga to hold talks with Mehsud Taliban

Published October 26, 2014
Khan Said ‘Sajna’.— Photo courtesy of Radio Mashaal
Khan Said ‘Sajna’.— Photo courtesy of Radio Mashaal

PESHAWAR: A Mehsud tribal jirga, likely to be headed by the father-in-law of the slain Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, will negotiate for peace talks between the Taliban’s Mehsud faction led by Khan Said ‘Sajna’ and the government, sources said.

Well placed sources confirmed that the jirga will comprise of eleven key Mehsud tribal elders and that a consensus has been reached on its name.

The sources also said that a secret meeting was held on Saturday by the Mehsud tribal jirga in Tank, where they agreed to negotiate between the government and the Mehsud Taliban.

Khan Said became Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) deputy leader following the death of Wali-ur-Rehman in May 2013.

He is believed to be involved in the attack on a Naval base in Karachi, and is also credited with masterminding a 2012 jailbreak in which the Taliban freed 400 inmates from a prison in Bannu.

The Mehsud faction, which Said leads, split from the TTP in May 2014. In a public statement following the split, Said had stated his commitment to continue carrying out terrorist acts in the country.

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...