ISLAMABAD: The negotiators from the government have cancelled a planned meeting with the Taliban committee on Monday following the killing of 23 Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Mohmand Agency.
In a letter issued on social media on late Sunday night, the Mohmand Agency Taliban chief Umar Khalid Khurrasani claimed that they have killed 23 FC soldiers, who were kidnapped by the terror outfit in 2010 from Shongari checkpost in Mohmand Agency, to avenge what he said was the custodial killing of Taliban fighters in various parts of Pakistan.
The sources said that the government peace committee comprising the premier’s advisor on national affairs Irfan Siddiqui‚ veteran journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai‚ former ambassador and expert on Afghanistan affairs Rustam Shah Mehmand and a former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) official Major (retd) Muhammad Amir held its meeting in Islamabad and decided not to join TTP negotiators in today’s meeting which was to discuss one-point agenda of ceasefire.
On the other hand, the Taliban team comprising Maulana Samiul Haq, Maulana Yousuf Shah, Maulana Abdul Aziz and professor Ibrahim, is in contact with the TTP political shura to confirm their point of view over the recent claim, sources added.
Emergency meeting of government dialogue committee summoned
Meanwhile, the chief coordinator of the government’s negotiating team Irfan Siddiqui said that an emergency meeting of government dialogue committee has been summoned on Tuesday to discuss the current situation and future course of action.
Siddiqui said that the committee has deplored and condemned the killing of FC soldiers, saying such incidents will hamper the process of serious and result oriented negotiations.
