Pakistan says no deadlock in Taliban peace talks

Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Sunday said there is no deadlock in the peace dialogue with the Taliban.

The remarks come following remarks by a senior Taliban intermediary, Prof. Ibrahim, that mistrust is a main hurdle in the talks.

The Taliban have not yet extended their ceasefire expired on April 10 over lack of progress in the talks over the release of prisoners.

Spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Shahidullah Shahid, has said the government has not yet accepted demands for the release of non-combatant prisoners and giving them a secure place in South Waziristan for future talks.

Official sources say the government is likely to release a dozen Taliban prisoners in the coming days that could push the dialogue process.

The interior minister told a news conference in Islamabad that the next meeting between the Taliban and the government would be held in the next few days.

He dispelled the impression about differences between the civilian and the military leadership.

"The government and the army together are taking the dialogue process forward. The army and the government are on the same page regarding release of non-combatant Taliban prisoners," Nisar said.

He ruled out release of any militant commander, adding the phase of release of combatant prisoners will come after some results are reached in the dialogue.

Prof. Ibrahim earlier told the media that the government has not provided details of the Taliban prisoners it released. He sought details of the freed Taliban so the intermediary could convince the Taliban leadership to release abducted men.

Officials say that the Taliban and other militant groups have kidnapped high profile personalities including the son of former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, the son of former Governor Salman Taseer and former Vice-Chancellor of Islamia College University of Peshawar, Prof. Ajmal for ransom.

They also say the Taliban want to secure release of their members in exchange of the abducted personalities however the government had in the past rejected their demands.