Pakistani clerics in Kabul for crucial TTP talks.

ISLAMABAD -- A delegation of Pakistani Ulema led by Mufti Taqi Usmani is currently in Kabul for talks with the representatives of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as part of efforts to push for a peace deal.

The delegation will not only hold meetings with the TTP representatives but also with the officials of the Afghan Taliban government to take forward the process that began earlier last year.

The Ulema are expected to use their good offices and influence over the banned outfit for the negotiated deal. But chances of any major breakthrough are slim as TTP believes that 2018 religious decree issued by Pakistani Ulema calling suicide attacks un-Islamic was primarily aimed at them.

Nevertheless, the visit is being seen as a step in the right direction to achieve the cherished dream of peace.

Efforts to strike the peace deal started in October last year when the Afghan Taliban offered to use their good offices to seek a political solution to the problem. Initially, the talks led to a one-month ceasefire but the process could not move forward after both sides accused the other of not honouring the commitments.

Afterwards, the outfit resumed terrorist attacks targeting the Pakistani security forces. In April, following the spate of cross-border terrorist attacks by the group, Islamabad reportedly carried out airstrikes across the border targeting its hideouts.

Pakistani authorities also conveyed a stern message to Afghan Taliban that the country would no longer tolerate TTP attacks...