ISLAMABAD - Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami group is optimistic to get response of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) within fortnight on peace talks message conveyed by JUI-S Chief Maulana Sami-ul-Haq a few days ago.
Maulana Sami, who was assigned the task to manage peace talks with Taliban by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, after the gap of less than a week conveyed message to some of responsible groups of TTP. "The response of Taliban about the message of peace negotiation could take more than a week," said JUI-S spokesman talking to The Nation.
The PML-N government with the consent of all political parties last year decided through a resolution that negotiations with the militants should be pursued as their first option to counter terrorism. It was decided that peace talks will be the first option to avoid any confrontation.
However, the incumbent government, which started efforts for peace negotiations with Taliban, reportedly stopped the process after the death of Taliban head Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike in the tribal belt. Then, Maulana Sami was reportedly asked by the PM to make all-out efforts to pave way for talks with the Taliban as his government wanted a peaceful solution.
It would not be out of place to mention here that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl group (JUI-F) has reportedly expressed its reservations over giving a green signal to JUI-S for peace talks by saying: "An individual cannot resolve this issue." The JUI-F has even said that giving task to JUI-S chairman could also be a recipe to sabotage peace talks.