The committees representing the government and the Taliban agreed on Saturday to extend the ceasefire.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, the head of the TTP committee, Maulana Samiul Haq, confirmed that the ceasefire would continue beyond March 31, the date set by them. But he did not say whether the ceasefire was still “temporary” or “permanent”.
Sources said the minister was likely to convene another meeting of the two committees in a few days and present views of the government and other stakeholders.
Then the Taliban committee would meet the TTP shura and the venue and time for another round of direct talks would be decided.
Maulana Haq said the agenda for the next round of talks would be finalised soon.
He was optimistic about the future of talks and said people should support efforts for restoration of peace.
He said during the next round, the government committee would hand the TTP a list of about 150 people, including sons of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and slain governor of Punjab Salman Taseer, as well as Ajmal Khan, a former vice chancellor of a university in Peshawar, for their release from the Taliban’s custody.
Earlier, the interior minister called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and discussed with him the strategy for dialogue with the TTP. Steps required to be taken to ensure peace came under discussion.
