A Pakistani delegation had visited Afghanistan earlier this month and held secret talks there with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to revive the peace talks that broke down last year in December after the militant group refused to extend the month-long ceasefire and intensified attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern region.

The meetings took place on 9 January and 10 January in the northeastern border province of Paktika between senior TTP leaders, including chief Noor Wali Mahsud, and the Pakistan delegation comprising tribal elders.

Last year peace talks, mediated by the Haqqani Network, one of the most powerful factions within the Afghan Taliban, had resulted in a month-long ceasefire—and exchange of some prisoners—but that ended in December. [read more]

The report said despite four rounds of talks this month, the two sides could not reach any understanding so far.

During the previous rounds of talks, the TTP had demanded the release of over 100 prisoners. However, the government had refused it. Earlier this month, the Pakistan delegation made a fresh offer.

“The delegation proposed an offer [on behalf of the government] to release half of the 100 TTP prisoners,” a member of the delegation was quoted as saying by Radio Mashal. “But the TTP leadership did not agree.”

Following the breakdown of talks in December, the TTP, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, resumed attacks and mounted a total of 45 attacks on the Pakistan security forces in December—the highest monthly attacks.   [Read More]

The TTP, which has a strong presence in Pakistan’s northwestern region bordering Afghanistan, shares an ideological and fraternal bond with the Afghan Taliban. The group enjoys sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

Significantly, the Pakistan government is reportedly under pressure at home because of its support for the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which continued sheltering the TTP. Border skirmishes and the TTP issue have exacerbated the tension between the Afghan Taliban and the Pakistan government.

Importantly, the Pakistan government has been pressing the Afghan Taliban to act on their assurances - that they would not allow any group to use Afghan soil to attack a foreign country—on the TTP. Officials had also told the group that they would not be recognized by the international community if they failed to reign in the TTP. [Read More]