Pakistani Taliban announces monthlong cease fire

ISLAMABAD, March 1 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the Taliban in Pakistan on Saturday announced a month-long cease fire.

The Pakistani government had been in deadlocked peace talks with Taliban leaders previous to the announcement, Dawn News reported.

Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said all groups operating under the TTP have been directed to stop attacks against the state and security forces.

Irfan Siddiqui, Pakistan's coordinator for the peace talks, welcomed the announcement, but said the government has yet to receive a formal message from the Taliban talks committee.

If the Taliban is serious about the peace talks, the cease fire should give the negotiation process more momentum, Siddiqui said.