( CNN ) -- The main Pakistani Taliban extended a cease-fire deadline until April 10 , the militant group said Friday . The move came two days after the group met with Pakistan officials and made demands . The cease-fire was initially agreed upon on March 1 . The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan , or TTP , which has been waging an insurgency against the Pakistani government , said it is still awaiting a reply from the government regarding the demands , including the release of noncombatants . At least 19 Taliban noncombatants were released earlier on the directive of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif , said Shaukatullah Khan , governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province . The release is a goodwill gesture that will help promote peace talks , Khan said , speaking at a seminar in Peshawar . The prime minister is supervising the talks process , which are going in a positive direction , according to Khan . In the first direct contact between the two sides , Pakistani government representatives met the Taliban for peace talks Wednesday in the tribal region of North Waziristan . The government team flew by helicopter from Peshawar to meet the Taliban negotiators at an undisclosed location , sources and state media said . TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told CNN the talks , which ended Wednesday evening , were held in a conducive environment . He said a consensus emerged on the exchange of noncombatants held by both sides . Sharif announced the peace initiative this year , but talks broke down last month in the wake of attacks by the Taliban . The militants , who are fighting for their austere version of Sharia law across Pakistan , have repeatedly rejected the country 's constitution . Since taking office last year , Sharif faced mounting pressure to bring the violence under control . Journalist Zahir Shah Sherazi reported from Peshawar , Pakistan , and CNN 's Michael Martinez contributed to this report from Los Angeles .
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan 's cease-fire with Pakistani government extended to April 10 . The group has been fighting for the creation of an Islamic state in Afghanistan since it was founded by Osama bin Laden and his followers after 9/11. Militant group is demanding release of noncombatants . Pakistani government officials met with Taliban this week to promote peace .