Islamabad: The Pakistan government Thursday denied reports that Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) prisoners have been released in an effort to revive the peace talks.
“The reports are incorrect. The government has neither released any Taliban prisoners neither has approval been given for any such measure,” Dawn online reported citing a spokesman for the Prime Minister House in Islamabad.
A foreign news wire report quoted an official in South Waziristan as saying that the Pakistan government had released 16 TTP prisoners in a bid to mend ties and continue the peace talks.
The TTP had announced a month-long ceasefire March 1 and on expiry of the ceasefire March 31 has refused to extend it due to what they called continuous violation of the ceasefire by the Pakistan government.
According to the TTP, the Pakistan government was just wasting time and was not sincere in meeting their demands and so now they might re-start the war.
The demands included release of 800 non-combatant prisoners and withdrawing the army from parts of the semi-autonomous tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan
The final decision on extension of ceasefire will be taken in a few days by the TTP shura.
During the period of the ceasefire, there has been a decrease in terrorist activities in Pakistan, media reports said.
The first round of direct talks between the Pakistan government and the TTP leadership concluded March 26.
