PESHAWAR: The government negotiating team and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Shura held their first round of direct peace talks in a remote area of North Waziristan on Wednesday, during which the both sides reached consensus on extending the ceasefire and on the exchange of non-combatants prisoners.
In a statement after the meeting, the TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said that the both sides have agreed in extending the ceasefire while there was also a consensus among them on the exchange of non-combatants prisoners.
The TTP spokesman said that talks were held in conducive environment and both sides have shown their confidence in the development. He further said that regular patrolling of the security forces in the area has to be limited giving way to free movement of tribesmen.
Earlier, the government negotiating team held talks with the TTP shura at an unidentified location in North Waziristan.
The four-member committee which represented the government in the talks included Habibullah Khattak, Rustam Shah Mohmand, Fawad Hassan Fawad and Arbab Arif.
On the other hand, Qari Shakeel, Azam Tariq, Molvi Zakir and Molvi Bashir took part in the talks with the government committee from the TTP side.
