LAHORE- Despite PTI’s announcement that its chief Imran Khan will not act as a representative of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in peace talks, the Jamaat-e-Islami’s Prof Muhammad Ibrahim Khan thinks the decision of their partner will not harm Khyber Pakhtunkhwa coalition government.
“The refusal of Imran Khan to become part of Taliban’s negotiation team does not make any difference as the PTI (Pakistan Tehreek Insaf) has announced that the KPK government will facilitate the peace dialogue,” said Ibrahim, who has also been nominated by TTP as its representative for talks.
Prof Ibrahim told The Nation on Monday that there were no difference in the approaches of PTI and JI regarding the dialogue with Taliban. When asked about the future of peace process after detachment of both Imran Khan and JUI-F chief Fazalur Rehman from the TTP team, Ibrahim expressed optimism saying it did not make a big difference especially when the PTI has clearly stated that its provincial government will act as a facilitator.
The JI leader said the decision for inclusion of any other member in the talks’ facilitation committee rests with the Taliban. He said they had accepted to be part of the TTP proposed committee for the sake of peace in the county.
About contact with the Taliban, he said presently TTP’s stance and demands were reaching to them indirectly through different sources, however, they wanted to meet the Taliban’s 10-member committee in person as soon as possible to learn about their view point and discuss their demands. He said they also wanted to discuss the matter to remove reservations so they could talk to the government with full satisfaction.
Senator Prof Ibrahim expressed his confidence that the Taliban’s 10-member committee was fully empowered and its decisions would be acceptable for the TTP. He said they were scheduled to meet with government committee today (Tuesday).