Negotiators for the Pakistani Taliban said on Tuesday that government representatives had refused to show up for planned peace talks, citing confusion over the militants' team.

The two sides had been scheduled to gather in Islamabad at 2 pm (local time) to chart a "road map" for talks, amid a surge in militant violence and skepticism about the chances of reaching a negotiated peace.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif caused surprise last week by announcing a team to begin dialogue with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which has been waging a violent insurgency since 2007.