Interior minister says talks with TTP to take place under the framework of Constitution

Islamabad: The National Security Committee (NSC) decided on Wednesday to initiate talks with the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) only under the framework of the Constitution.  

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah told reporters that the meeting on national security was attended by civil and military leadership.

He said said it was also decided that an in-camera briefing would be held on the matter and later the prime minister will brief the parliament.

"The talks [with the TTP] will be taken forward under the guidance of parliament," Sanaullah added.

On June 2, the outlawed TTP announced an "indefinite ceasefire" in view of the "substantial progress" made in talks with the Pakistani government during a round of meetings in Kabul.

The announcement, made by TTP spokesman Mohammad Khorasani, had come a day after a 50-member Pakistani tribal jirga, including a federal minister, representatives from the KP government and tribal elders, joined the peace talks.

According to a statement issued after the meeting today, the institutions "responsible for national security" briefed the committee on the overall security situation of the country.

The meeting was apprised of internal and external threats and the measures being taken by the agencies to handle the security situation.

The meeting was informed that talks were underway with the TTP, facilitated by the government of Afghanistan, in which a government-led committee comprising civil and military representatives were negotiating within the framework of the Constitution of Pakistan.

The relevant authorities concerning the national security briefed the participants about the overall national security situation. Further briefing was also given about the steps taken by the authorities concerned at the internal and external levels to tackle the looming security threats.

The meeting was briefed over the administrative matters at the Pak-Afghan border. Pakistan had played a very responsible and positive role for the peace and stability in Afghanistan and would continue to play its constructive role in the future.

The meeting also expressed the hope that Afghan soil would not be used against Pakistan. The meeting also noted that the world had acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.

Pakistani nation and the armed forces of Pakistan had rendered unprecedented sacrifices which ensured writ of the state, restoration of peace and the return of normal life activities in the country. Due to these efforts and sacrifices, there was no longer a single organized terrorist infrastructure operative in any part of the country, it was further added.

The top political and military leadership expressed their satisfaction over the strategy to tackle the issues and the progress made in this regard.