Pakistan has entered into official peace talks with the Taliban, according to authorities in the country.<br /><br />The long-awaited talks aim to chart a path for negotiations to end the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) insurgency.<br /><br />Held in Islamabad, the first meeting was used to set out five conditions, including putting an end to hostilities.<br /><br />Maulana Samiul Haq, leader of the Taliban delegation supported the ceasefire.<br /><br />“To ensure the success of the talks, all activities against peace and security must be ended,” he said.<br /><br />The other conditions were: all talks are to be held within the framework of the constitution; the scope of the talks should remain confined to areas affected by violence, not the whole of Pakistan; the Taliban should clarify the role of a separate nine-member committee they have established; and the talks should not be protracted. <br /><br />Head of the government team, Ifram Sadiqui, also spoke out against the hostilities.<br /><br />“We have to put an end to lawlessness and we have to make Pakistan a place where people can live peacefully according to the teachings of Islam.”<br /><br />Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced the talks initiative following a string of attacks in the week prior to the first meeting.<br /><br />Thousands have been killed in assaults in Pakistan since the TTP was formed in 2007. More than 100 civilians and soldiers were killed in January 2014 alone.
