The maiden meeting between the Pakistan government and a Taliban-nominated committee to frame a roadmap for peace talks was postponed today, with representatives of the banned group claiming state negotiators had come under "pressure".
The state negotiators said they wanted a few clarifications from members of the panel nominated by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). But Maulana Samiul Haq, known as the "father of the Taliban", alleged the government was not serious about the peace process.
Senior journalist Irfan Siddiqui, convener of the four-member government committee, informed Haq of the decision to postpone the meeting.
Earlier, the government committee met to discuss the situation after the TTP nominated its panel and two key leaders - cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and Jamiat Uleme-e-Islam leader Fazlur Rehman - dissociated themselves from it.
"I got a call from Siddiqui saying they were prepared to hold talks with five members (of the Taliban-nominated committee) but now only three are remaining. I told him that we are there and they should talk to us," Haq said.
He claimed the postponement reflected the government's "non-seriousness". He added: "Our doors are always open. We are ready for talks and they should talk to us."
The state negotiators decided a meeting between the two committees would be useless until certain clarifications were made.
Negotiators representing the two sides were scheduled to meet here this afternoon for preliminary talks aimed at preparing the roadmap. No Taliban leaders were to be part of these talks.
The Taliban issued a statement saying the government would have to speak to the persons nominated by it.
The government committee comprises Siddiqui, former ambassador Rustam Shah Mohmand, journalist Rahimullah Yousufzai and former ISI officer Major (retire) Muhammad Amir.
The TTP had named a five-member team - Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mohammad Ibrahim, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-S chief Samiul Haq, JUI-F leader Mufti Kifayatullah, Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan.
However, Kifayatullah and Imran Khan declined to join the Taliban committee.
