PESHAWAR: The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Friday announced not to extend the month-long ceasefire, accusing the government of failure to fulfill the earlier commitments.
A statement issued by the TTP said that it had reached an agreement with the government on October 25, 2021 with the support of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA). “Under the agreement, the two sides agreed that the IEA would act as a mediator and the two sides would form five-member committees to discuss the future course of action,” the TTP said.
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The two sides issued a joint statement regarding a month-long ceasefire from 1st to 30 November. The statement said that government had announced the release of 102 prisoners and their handover to TTP through the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. “So far, 102 members of the banned outfit have not been released and action has been taken against TTP members in various areas,” the banned outfit said.
The militant group added that the Security forces have conducted raids in Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Swat, Bajaur, Swabi and North Waziristan, killing and detaining the militants. The TTP informed that it has also not received response from mediators or the government therefore; they reserve the right to resume attacks. Earlier, in an audio message, TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud announced an end the ceasefire and asked his fighters to resume attacks after 12 midnight.
It is to be noted that Prime Minister Imran Khan first spoke about the talks with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in an interview after which it was reported that the Afghan Taliban were playing the role of mediator. However, the opposition political parties, especially the Pakistan peoples party and Awami national Party (ANP) strongly criticised the government move to release the prisoners, saying that they have killed thousands of innocent people in terror activities across the country.