Pakistani Taliban demand release of prisoners, troops withdrawal

Pakistani Taliban Sunday called for the release of their prisoners and withdrawal of army from the tribal regions, which the group says could be major confidence building measures for the possible peace talks. Taliban set conditions after a parliamentary conference, hosted by the government in Islamabad on September 9, called upon the government to initiate dialogue with the militants. Taliban spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, said the group will trust the government's powers and intention if the Taliban prisoners are freed and the troops are withdrawn from the tribal areas. "The government should show sincerity and prove its powers ahead of peace talks," the Taliban spokesman told the media. He said a three-day meeting of the central council of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was held with the chief Hakimullah Mehsud in the chair, and asked the government to take steps to build trust and to create such an environment to remove doubts. "We still doubt the government's powers and its sincerity. Talks will be useful when we realize that the government has powers," the Taliban spokesman said. "The governments, in the past did not honour its promises to us, and we do not want the same is repeated again," Shahid said. Political analysts are of the view that the government will not accept the Taliban demands unless the talks are started and make progress. They are also surprised that on one hand the Taliban are making demands but on the other they have continued attacks on Pakistani forces. They are of the opinion that conditions will make the peace process complicated. Taliban's attack in the country's northwest area, which resulted into the killing of two senior officers, has prompted strong condemnation across the country. Analysts also believe that such attacks could mount pressure on the government to review plan for talks with the Taliban.