The hard-line Pakistani Taliban (Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan) has offered to honor a cease-fire if the government declares a truce first.
The announcement, issued on October 1, came in response to an appeal by conservative Sunni clerics running Sunni religious schools in Pakistan.
In their statement issued on September 30, the Wifaqul Madaris (Association of Islamic Schools) called the confrontation between the government and the Taliban a "civil war-like situation" and urged both sides to immediately declare a cease-fire and hold peace talks.
Purported Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told Pakistan's "Dawn" daily that the government should take the lead in ending the war by first ceasing its military operations against the Taliban.
Hundreds of civilians and soldiers have died in militant attacks since Islamabad first proposed holding unconditional talks with the Taliban last month.
The announcement, issued on October 1, came in response to an appeal by conservative Sunni clerics running Sunni religious schools in Pakistan.
In their statement issued on September 30, the Wifaqul Madaris (Association of Islamic Schools) called the confrontation between the government and the Taliban a "civil war-like situation" and urged both sides to immediately declare a cease-fire and hold peace talks.
Purported Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told Pakistan's "Dawn" daily that the government should take the lead in ending the war by first ceasing its military operations against the Taliban.
Hundreds of civilians and soldiers have died in militant attacks since Islamabad first proposed holding unconditional talks with the Taliban last month.