ISLAMABAD – Officials say much-delayed peace talks between representatives of the government and Pakistani Taliban militants have begun in the capital, ending a deadlock in getting negotiations started.
The talks were to be originally held Tuesday, but delayed after the government negotiators sought some clarification about the identities of the Taliban's negotiating team.
Prominent pro-Taliban cleric Maulana Samiul Haq is leading the Taliban team.
A member of the Taliban committee and the government committee said their meeting started Thursday in Islamabad, speaking anonymously to avoid disrupting the talks.
The meeting comes amid increasing attacks in Pakistan, and public pressure to start a military operation against the Taliban.
But, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says he wants to give peace another chance to end the violence.
Fox News' "Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world.