Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan declares ‘end’ to ceasefire

ISLAMABAD: The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) declared an end to a month-long ceasefire with the Pakistani government, accusing it of breaching terms including a prisoner release accord and the formation of negotiating committees, confirmed Reuters.

Last month’s ceasefire, arranged with the help of the Afghan Taliban, was set to run until Thursday with the possibility of extending only if both parties agreed.

It was the latest in a series of attempts to broker a settlement to end a conflict that has killed thousands.

The Afghan Taliban’s shock overthrow of the Western-backed government in August gave the talks fresh impetus, said the Reuters report, but the TTP accused Islamabad of failing to respect the ceasefire agreement.

A statement issued by the TTP late on Thursday evening said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had not released more than 100 prisoners as promised and had not appointed negotiating teams to conduct talks.

It also said security forces had carried out raids while the ceasefire was in force.

“Now let the Pakistani people decide whether it is the TTP or the Pakistani army and establishment that is not abiding by the agreements?” the group said in a statement according to Reuters.

“In these circumstances, it is not possible to advance the ceasefire,” it said.

Prime Minister Khan announced in October that the government was in talks with the TTP for the first time since 2014, facilitated by Afghanistan’s new leaders.

Both sides announced a truce until at least December 9, while they hammer out an agreement.

Neither side had openly divulged details about the negotiating points. But the release of about 100 TTP fighters was a key demand for the militants to agree to a ceasefire, a source from the group had told AFP.