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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Pakistan peace talks with Taliban are delayed | Pakistan peace talks with Taliban are delayed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani government negotiators say they are not planning to meet a Taliban team for preliminary peace talks in Islamabad as expected on Tuesday. | Pakistani government negotiators say they are not planning to meet a Taliban team for preliminary peace talks in Islamabad as expected on Tuesday. |
| The government side said before talks began they wanted further clarification from the team nominated by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has expressed disappointment at the news. | The government side said before talks began they wanted further clarification from the team nominated by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has expressed disappointment at the news. |
| The two sides had been due to start charting a "roadmap" for talks. | The two sides had been due to start charting a "roadmap" for talks. |
| The militants have been waging an insurgency inside Pakistan since 2007. | The militants have been waging an insurgency inside Pakistan since 2007. |
| Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced last week that the peace talks would go ahead. They follow a spate of attacks. | Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced last week that the peace talks would go ahead. They follow a spate of attacks. |
| In January more than 100 people, including many soldiers, died in Taliban attacks across the country. | In January more than 100 people, including many soldiers, died in Taliban attacks across the country. |
| As a result, many analysts had been expecting a large scale military offensive against TTP strongholds in Pakistan's tribal areas. | As a result, many analysts had been expecting a large scale military offensive against TTP strongholds in Pakistan's tribal areas. |
| The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says some in Pakistan worry that the talks will only allow the militants time to gain strength. Previous peace deals with the Pakistani Taliban have all failed. | The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says some in Pakistan worry that the talks will only allow the militants time to gain strength. Previous peace deals with the Pakistani Taliban have all failed. |
| Mr Sharif's team comprises veteran journalists Rahimullah Yusufzai and Irfan Siddiqui, former ambassador Rustam Shah Mohmand and a retired major from the ISI intelligence service, Amir Shah. | Mr Sharif's team comprises veteran journalists Rahimullah Yusufzai and Irfan Siddiqui, former ambassador Rustam Shah Mohmand and a retired major from the ISI intelligence service, Amir Shah. |
| The Taliban team includes Maulana Sami ul-Haq, known as the "Father of the Taliban"; the chief cleric of Islamabad's Red Mosque, Maulana Abdul Aziz; and religious party leader and Prof Ibrahim Khan. | |
| Maulana ul-Haq said that following the preliminary talks, they would discuss with the militant leadership how to proceed. | Maulana ul-Haq said that following the preliminary talks, they would discuss with the militant leadership how to proceed. |
| He added that the TTP had not yet put forward any formal demands for the talks, although correspondents say the group has repeatedly said it wants Sharia (Islamic law) to be imposed throughout Pakistan. | He added that the TTP had not yet put forward any formal demands for the talks, although correspondents say the group has repeatedly said it wants Sharia (Islamic law) to be imposed throughout Pakistan. |
| Prof Khan told the BBC that it was an important moment for Pakistan. | Prof Khan told the BBC that it was an important moment for Pakistan. |
| "For the past 10 to 12 years, the peace of the country [has been] disturbed. We are in a war situation and we have lost 50,000 souls. We are hoping for peace and trying for peace to be established," he said. | "For the past 10 to 12 years, the peace of the country [has been] disturbed. We are in a war situation and we have lost 50,000 souls. We are hoping for peace and trying for peace to be established," he said. |
| Government negotiator Rahimullah Yusufzai questioned whether those picked to negotiate for the Taliban would really represent them. | Government negotiator Rahimullah Yusufzai questioned whether those picked to negotiate for the Taliban would really represent them. |
| He added: "We don't have any illusions, we know it's going to be very challenging." | He added: "We don't have any illusions, we know it's going to be very challenging." |
| Former cricketer Imran Khan was also asked to be part of the TTP team but declined the offer. His Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said he was not needed at the talks as another party figure, Rustam Shah Mohmand, is already on the government team. | Former cricketer Imran Khan was also asked to be part of the TTP team but declined the offer. His Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said he was not needed at the talks as another party figure, Rustam Shah Mohmand, is already on the government team. |
| Mr Khan has been a strong supporter of negotiating with the insurgents. | Mr Khan has been a strong supporter of negotiating with the insurgents. |
| Mr Sharif, who was elected last May, has been under mounting pressure to bring the violence under control. | Mr Sharif, who was elected last May, has been under mounting pressure to bring the violence under control. |