PTI chairman Imran Khan. PHOTO: AFP
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan reportedly convinced army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to administer a ‘phased withdrawal’ of troops from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas by initiating peace talks with militants, according to party officials.
“Sending military to tribal areas was a big mistake,” a senior PTI leader quoted him as saying to General Kayani prior to the All Parties Conference (APC) held at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat on Monday. “Having negotiations and fighting terrorism side by side is not a wise move.”
General Kayani, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director-General Lt General Zaheerul Islam stated that the military top brass agreed a ‘phased withdrawal’ of troops from Fata, said the PTI official.
During the meeting, he also conveyed his concerns to the ISI DG over militants’ attacks on jails in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Meanwhile, in his meeting with Prime Minister Sharif, the PTI chairman discussed matters relating to the security situation in Balochistan, Karachi and the tribal areas. “‘Give peace a chance’ should be the guiding central principle of the present government,” Khan was quoted as telling Premier Sharif.
A clear and loud message should be sent to Washington to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty by ending its drone campaign in the tribal areas, Khan put up his demand before the APC.
He raised other points at the multi-party forum in which he asked the government to quit the US-led war on terror, commence the dialogue process and start truth and reconciliation efforts for promoting peace in the country.
He urged the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government to take up the issue of drone strikes at the United Nations on a ‘now or never’ basis. “This will be a step in the right direction of proving that Pakistan is an independent state.”
The PTI chairman expressed his satisfaction over his meeting with General Kayani and Prime Minister Sharif, reads a statement issued by the PTI office. Khan termed the passage of a unanimous resolution at the APC “a beginning towards extricating the country from war on terror and moving towards a national holistic policy on counter terrorism”. It is a good start towards getting Pakistan out of the debilitating US war on terror, he added.
He hoped that now a comprehensive counter-terrorism policy and strategy would be swiftly drawn up and a dedicated institutional structure would be established to implement them. Needless to say, the APC was convened to do just that.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2013.
COMMENTS (31)
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I wish people and the Khan above only understand why this uprising is there in FATA by TTP, not even 5% of people of FATA support this organization,What is ultimate objective of founding father of TTP is not known people.Army is not of fools which has gone in,it is proven best army of the world,TTP intention and demands will make you more clear.
for more info check out this link
We love you IK, you always in our prays.
if swat like situation comes again then where imran khan will stand.
There is no one like IK in Pakistan as well as in the World who has an enthusiasm for Change. He is a Noble man and work for Noble cause. IK is the most great Leader Of Pakistan. He is the most favorite Leader in Pakistan. He has vowed to Change Pakistan into NAYA PAKISTAN .
One thing i want to clear that After My ALLAH, I Believe on My Best & favorite Leader Sir IMRAN KHAN, I m Sure He is thinking Better for Me, For U & For All Pakistani & For All Pakistan,, So May God Give Him The Success that He Deserve...! And IMRAN KHAN Is My Leader, No Matter Who Wins,,.
the Whole Circus abt withdrawal etc is all done by the pressure of American policy and not any nation interest thing from either the government or IK. its not abt hate or love, its abt open your eyes. America needs Peace in this fata in order to get out from Afghanistan phsycially. look at realities from an international perspective not an nationalistic one. and then people Wonder why we are not independent.
So, Mr Democracy Khan agrees that real power lies with the Army.
Ok, we got it. One more feather in his cap.
The news "according to party officials" says it all ... All these "officials" of PTI are simply point scoring on sensitive issues of national defense.
Sir Imran Khan is a blessing for Pakistan. No matter how much u criticize him for spending 30% of kpk's budget on education and reducing class injustice by implementing same course. You retards need to understand only dialogues and education can end terrorism once and for all, military actions and spending most of your budget on defense in not an option. Thanks for spending on education and health. & to the supporters, dont bother about the haters, keep calm and trust + support IK (Y)
yes sir....please provide the militants with perfect space to stage a comeback!
@Ibrahim: he has a chance to implement his vision in KPK. PML-N had he best governed state during 2008-2013 and voters rewrded them. If Imran proves himself in KPK, he too will be rewarded. If he is unable to follow up talk with action, he will have no one else to blame.
Leave FATA completely in the hands of the Taliban and criminal gangs? What kind of utter nonsense is this ? Taliban does not represent the people of FATA.
Irony of this country is that only ONE man in the political corridors who is absolutely clean , speaks the truth and has a brilliant vision but unfortunately is not the chief executive of the government. By all means IK has got great vision and a great ability to lead and I just hope and pray that we as a nation get to benefit from his leadership qualities sooner rather than later.
“Sending military to tribal areas was a big mistake.”
And then Kayani saw the light emanating form the great Khan and reversed 66 years of the same policy in a single day.
Imran Khan genuinely wants Pakistan to get out of this menace of terrorism.
@umar: It was never our war. We owned it an lost 50,000 lives...But remember, every war ends on nagotiations table, sooner or the later.
So finally sanity prevails....
Even after killing of 50,000 people it's not our war. Oh wow. What a great nation we are.
great leader IK love u
Why does the reporter have to give his own remarks "Needless to say, the APC was convened to do just that." - his job is to REPORT only!
Hater gonna hate, to me he is my leader.
i hope more construtive and meaningful dailogue will be held after phased withdrawal of army from FATA
Sir Imran Khan.
A sane voice.
If he is logical...then Army will agree!
Amazing Khan....Keep it up!
IK is right...It is not our war.In order to bring peace and tranquillity in the country Govt. should act upon all the decisions of APC.