ANP backs talks with Taliban: Hoti

The K-P chief minister appreciated JUI-F’s initiative in calling a tribal jirga to promote the APC.

MARDAN:

The Awami National Party (ANP) favours fruitful dialogue with the Taliban and will participate in an all-party conference (APC) convened by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Hoti on Sunday.

Talking to journalists after addressing the fifth foundation day of the Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan, Hoti said his party would support every move towards peace dialogue with the Taliban. He said the ANP would take part in the APC in order to chalk out a plan for peace talks in collaboration with other parties.

“We will support every party which comes forward for the restoration of peace in the region,” Hoti said. The K-P chief minister also appreciated JUI-F’s initiative in calling a tribal jirga to promote the APC, saying the move would increase the pace of the dialogue process.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2013.