Pakistan Taliban undecided at shaky ceasefire expires

Islamabad, April 3, IRNA -- Pakistani Taliban are undecided whether or not to extend their shaky month-long ceasefire, however a Taliban leader says they would not carry out any big attacks. The March 1st ceasefire expired late Monday and a Taliban leader told IRNA that the Taliban leadership awaits a “positive response to our two small demands.” The Taliban had announced the ceasefire after the defunct governmentˈs negotiation team refused to hold more talks unless the militants stop more attacks. “I want to say we have neither ended the ceasefire nor extended it. However, we will not carry out any big attack as our intermediaries are still engaged in talks with the government,” the Taliban leader said late Tuesday. He requested not to be identified as he is not talking at official capacity. He confirmed that Taliban seek a secure place in South Waziristan tribal region that had previously been under their control. The military had expelled the TTP fighters after a major ground and air operation had been launched in October 2009. He said the Taliban have proposed “peace zone’ in Laddha or Makin, the Mehsuds-majority areas in South Waziristan. He said Taliban also want the release of all non-combatant prisoners, adding that if the “gov’t cannot accept just two demands then how the gov’t would face the difficult demands in the future.” The Taliban intermediaries had earlier hinted the banned outfit had agreed to continue the ceasefire during the dialogue process with the government. ˈThe Taliban leaders have discussed the ceasefire extension, however, they have not reached any decision,ˈ the Taliban leader said. The TTP leader evaded a question when asked if the Taliban will set a deadline for acceptance of their demands. ˈOur intermediaries are in touch with the government and are working how to resolve the issue,ˈ he said. ˈSome Taliban leaders are of the view that if the government does not positively respond to two proposals then how it would take hard decisions in future,ˈ the TTP leader said. The Taliban leaders said it seems the government is facing difficulties to accept the demands, saying that the opposition Pakistan Peopleˈs Party and the Mutahida Qaumi Movement are trying to foil the dialogue process./end