FILE PHOTO

By The South Asia Times

Islamabad, Pakistan — Long-awaited talks between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the government commenced on Monday , aiming to defuse the country’s deepening political crisis.

The negotiations are being led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on behalf of the ruling coalition, while senior PTI leaders including Asad Qaiser represent the party chaired by former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The discussions are focused on resolving contentious issues, including the realese of political prisoners including Khan and others who were detained during recent political turmoil. Both sides have expressed cautious optimism about the talks, with PTI emphasizing the need to form judicial commission to probe May 9, 2023 and Nov. 26, 2024 incidents.

" We strongly expressed our position in the meeting with the government negotiation team. We demanded the release of all prisoners, including Imran Khan. In the meeting, we also put forward a demand regarding the formation of a judicial commission. We will present a charter of demands to the government team on Jan. 2 and also demande to establish contact with Imran Khan. The government team accepted the demand to arrange meeting with Imran Khan," Asad Qaiser said on X. 

The talks come amid growing public and international pressure for a resolution to Pakistan’s political impasse, which has exacerbated economic challenges and strained state institutions. Observers view the dialogue as a crucial opportunity to break the deadlock and avert further polarization. However, both sides face skepticism over their willingness to compromise on key issues.

Both teams are expected to meet again soon.