Confusion, doubt as Pakistan tries to talk to Taliban militants

Source: GMA News / Reuters

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's much-awaited talks with the Taliban got off to a shambolic start on Tuesday after government negotiators failed to turn up at an agreed time following days of confusion over who should represent the insurgents.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif surprised his country last week when he announced he would give peace talks another chance just as speculation intensified that his government was preparing for a military offensive against Pakistani Taliban strongholds.

The Pakistani Taliban are fighting to topple the central government and establish Islamic rule but have recently shown willingness to come to the negotiating table.

On Tuesday, a group of bearded negotiators representing the Taliban arrived at an agreed venue in central Islamabad at 2 p.m. (0900 GMT) for what had been scheduled to be the first round of talks.

"We arrived on time for the meeting but the government side didn't turn up," a visibly angry Maulana Sami ul-Haq, one of the Taliban negotiators, a radical cleric known as the Father of the Taliban, told reporters after a two-hour wait.

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