PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD - The banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has put forward an offer to the Pakistani government for holding peace talks.
Talking to media from an unknown location, the TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid and senior leader Azam Tariq said that Taliban are ready for meaningful, serious and result-oriented dialogue. They said they believe in the utility of dialogue and had never refused negotiations.
They said they had rejected the dialogue earlier because, according to them, the government was neither sincere nor powerful enough. They said if the government wanted to create a peaceful and trustworthy environment, it would have to announce a ceasefire. In such a case, they can also review their activities.  They said they strongly condemn the blast at Peshawar Tableegi Markaz as they do not attack Muslims. They blamed the secret agencies for such acts to bring a bad name to Taliban. They said that SP Chaudhry Aslam met his fate and they are proud that a case was framed against the TTP for his murder.
In reply to a question, Azam Tariq said that the government considered propaganda in media as part of its war but they believe in truth and facts. He said the government never made serious effort for holding talks with them.
Shahidullah Shahid said there is a war going on between them and the government. He said they rejected the dialogue because their Amir was killed to sabotage the process and it proved that the government was not serious in talks.