Pak forces continue operations despite ceasefire: Taliban

The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan today accused security forces of continuing operations, arrests and torture of its fighters despite a month-long ceasefire.
Search operations and mortar shelling continued in Mohmand tribal region whereas several members of the Taliban were arrested in Karachi, Swabi, Charsadda and Peshawar, said the banned outfit's spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid.
He said raids, arrests and torture of prisoners was a violation of the ceasefire. Shahid said the Taliban had no link with the Ahrar-ul Hind and Jundullah militant groups.
The Taliban spokesperson claimed that there were several elements within the PML-N government ranks who are trying to derail the dialogue process.

The militant group has waged a bloody decade-long war against the Pakistani state that has left about 40,000 dead.
Peace talks between the government and the Taliban struck an impasse last month after a faction of the militant group killed 23 kidnapped Pakistani soldiers.

The killings resulted in multiple targeted airstrikes by the military against militant hideouts in the tribal region of the northwest.
The Taliban then announced a one-month ceasefire which was reciprocated by the government which halted its airstrikes.
The government has formed a new four-member committee to mediate with the Taliban's negotiating team.
The Taliban spokesperson said the group will carry forward talks with the government honestly and seriously.

"We will not let allow any TTP men to violate the ceasefire and we do hope from the government that it would take notice of these matters and will concentrate on its resolution so that talks process reaches to its end in a peaceful environment," Shahid said.