The long wait ended Thursday with Maoists saying they will sit down for talks with the Government of Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa.

Maoist Chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal, in a statement, said he had ordered the rebel negotiating team to begin talks. Dahal said the third round of talks should discuss a political agenda demanded by the rebels.

“The commitment of the government to discuss political issues, release three central committee members were positive,” Dahal’s said in a statement. Opposition political parties should be involved in the talks, he said.

“The coming discussions should be centered not on technicalities but on political issues under the special circumstances,” Dahal added.

Government Spokesman Kamal Thapa welcomed the development as “positive.” “The response is positive,” Kamal Thapa said. “The government will establish direct contact with the Maoists and start talks,” Thapa told reporters.

He asked five opposition parties to help the peace process. “Government has taken the fresh developments positively. Our commitment will be to discuss political issues in the talks,” Thapa said.

“We will succeed in peaceful resolution through talks. The opposition has an important role .The Government will try to involve opposition .We ask the opposition to act positively,” Thapa said.