Pakistani gov't, Taliban hold first round of direct peace talks

A Pakistani government's negotiation team held first direct peace talks with Taliban militants and agreed to continue talks to find out a peaceful solution to the conflict in the country, negotiators said on Wednesday.

Head of the Taliban intermediaries Maulana Samiul Haq told the media that the talks were "productive" and that both sides showed willingness to continue the dialogue process.

He said both sides listened to each other's views in the seven- hour talks in a "cordial atmosphere."

Five members of the Taliban political council attended the talks. Qari Shakil Haqqani led the Taliban delegation in the face- to-face talks in Tull, Hangu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Both sides did not issue any formal statement at the conclusion of the talks. However, the Taliban intermediaries said they were satisfied with the outcome of the talks.

"The direct talks and agreement to continue talks are big achievements," said Maulvi Yousaf Shah, who also attended Wednesday's talks.

He did not reply to query if the Taliban agreed to extend their month-long ceasefire they had declared on March 1.

"The understanding is the ceasefire will continue during the talks," Shah said, adding that the Taliban and the government negotiators will apprise the leadership of the details of the talks.

In a positive response to the Taliban ceasefire, the government had also suspended airstrikes against Taliban hideouts in Waziristan tribal region.

The Taliban sources said their negotiation team had handed over a list of their prisoners and asked for their release.

Another Taliban intermediary, Professor Ibrahim, also expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the talks, saying the process would produce positive results.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the dialogue process had entered into a crucial and decisive phase.

The government team will report to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in Islamabad on Thursday, sources said. Endi