The grand tribal jirga will meet key North Waziristan militant commanders today (Wednesday) as the Taliban hope that a negotiated peace settlement is "not far off". A jirga member told Daily Times from Miranshah that the meeting with key Taliban commanders near Razmak was important and the jirga would present proposals for their consideration. He, however, declined to give details of the proposals, saying that complete secrecy was necessary to help broker peace in North Waziristan.Purported Taliban spokesman Abdullah Farhad confirmed contacts with the jirga members, saying: "Things are moving in the right direction."
"The Taliban and civil and military establishments are serious in finding a negotiated settlement and their willingness is understandable since both sides have suffered heavily during the operations," the jirga member said.