<p>The Pakistani Taliban today announced a month-long ceasefire to facilitate the resumption of peace talks suspended by the government over the recent execution of 23 troops.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"We announce a month-long ceasefire from today and appeal to all our comrades to respect the decision and refrain from any activity during this period," said Shahidullah Shahid, spokesman of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).<br /><br />He said directives had been issued to all Taliban factions to respect the truce and honour it by avoiding all "jihadi activities".<br /><br />"We believe that the government would seriously consider our decision and will keep the negotiation process free from all kind of politicking and would make progress in a positive manner," Shahid said in a statement issued to the media.<br /><br />The ceasefire was welcomed by the government, and Irfan Siddiqui, the head of the state negotiators, told PTI: "We welcome this announcement. This is a happy and positive development. We are hopeful that the dialogue process will move ahead."<br /><br />Asked if the government and the Taliban were engaged in any back channel parleys, he said: "You cannot call it back-channel talks. The government committee and the Taliban-nominated committee were in touch with each other away from the media glare.<br /><br />"We had sought an unconditional ceasefire from the Taliban for the talks, which were suspended due to terrorist acts, to move ahead."<br /><br />Siddiqui said the talks would "resume now and hopefully you will hear some good news".<br /><br />The government suspended the troubled peace process on February 17 after a Taliban faction beheaded 23 Frontier Corps personnel abducted in 2010. Even as the two sides were holding talks, the Taliban carried out attacks in several parts of the country.<br /><br />After the process was put on hold, military jets targeted Taliban hideouts in the restive tribal areas, killing over 100 terrorists.</p>
<p>The Pakistani Taliban today announced a month-long ceasefire to facilitate the resumption of peace talks suspended by the government over the recent execution of 23 troops.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"We announce a month-long ceasefire from today and appeal to all our comrades to respect the decision and refrain from any activity during this period," said Shahidullah Shahid, spokesman of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).<br /><br />He said directives had been issued to all Taliban factions to respect the truce and honour it by avoiding all "jihadi activities".<br /><br />"We believe that the government would seriously consider our decision and will keep the negotiation process free from all kind of politicking and would make progress in a positive manner," Shahid said in a statement issued to the media.<br /><br />The ceasefire was welcomed by the government, and Irfan Siddiqui, the head of the state negotiators, told PTI: "We welcome this announcement. This is a happy and positive development. We are hopeful that the dialogue process will move ahead."<br /><br />Asked if the government and the Taliban were engaged in any back channel parleys, he said: "You cannot call it back-channel talks. The government committee and the Taliban-nominated committee were in touch with each other away from the media glare.<br /><br />"We had sought an unconditional ceasefire from the Taliban for the talks, which were suspended due to terrorist acts, to move ahead."<br /><br />Siddiqui said the talks would "resume now and hopefully you will hear some good news".<br /><br />The government suspended the troubled peace process on February 17 after a Taliban faction beheaded 23 Frontier Corps personnel abducted in 2010. Even as the two sides were holding talks, the Taliban carried out attacks in several parts of the country.<br /><br />After the process was put on hold, military jets targeted Taliban hideouts in the restive tribal areas, killing over 100 terrorists.</p>