Rashid sets out terms for talks with TTP

Says dialogue to be held with groups willing to lay down their arms

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Monday said the government will only talk to those Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) groups that are willing to lay down their arms and agree to abide by the Constitution.

The interior minister clarified that the government will not talk to factions responsible for harming Pakistan’s interests and added that there will be no reconciliation with terrorist elements.

The minister said the Ministry of Interior had no role in the talks with the banned outfits nor has the premier as of now tasked the ministry to be a part of the dialogue process. He added that the policy of the prime minister regarding dialogue with the militant outfits will be followed.

The minister however expressed his ignorance about the government starting talks with the banned TTP.

Replying to a question during a news conference in Islamabad, Ahmed said, "The Ministry of Interior has no role in this [talks with the TTP], and if the Taliban are engaged in any dialogue then it is not in my knowledge."

Read Govt aware of ‘good, bad’ Taliban: Rashid

He added that "nothing is final as to how this will end up".

To another question about whether he wanted talks to be held with the TTP, he replied that decisions on such matters were taking "at the highest level" by the prime minister.

"The Ministry of Interior does not make such decisions," he reiterated.

Acknowledging that army soldiers had been sacrificing lives in the fight against terrorism, he further stated that the prime minister had clarified that talks would be held with only those groups who would lay down their arms and would abide by the law and Constitution of Pakistan.

"Those who are terrorists and have caused harm to the country will not be engaged in dialogue."
Ahmed repeated that this was the prime minister's decision and his ministry was not involved in the matter.

He further said 20,000 people from Afghanistan had entered Pakistan since August 15 and 6,000 had left for the former.

The minister added Integrated Border Management Systems had been installed at 16 terminals at the Chaman border and the system would later be installed at five more terminals.

Talking about NADRA, Rashid said that the government will rid the national database authority of corruption and a new policy was being formulated for the same reason. According to the minister, the government will take action over the issuance of fake vaccination certificates.

Rashid added that action against fake ID cards was underway and the government has suspended 136 people so far over the issuance of fake CNICs. He further said passports can be issued within 24 hours with a fee of Rs10,000.

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“Since August 15, [at least] 20,000 people have come to Pakistan from Afghanistan. We have given a deadline of October 30 that Afghans who want to return can return without paying a fine,” he said referring to the exodus of Afghans following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul.

The interior minister further said that the federal government will also launch an online visa facility for Afghans by the end of this month.

Rashid said that an air patrolling system for Islamabad with 12 drones will be inaugurated this week and the Islamabad Police will hire 1,000 more personnel to meet its growing needs.

Rashid said that a new air security unit would be launched this week having 12 drones to provide a faultless security system to the citizens of the federal capital.

He said that in order to ensure foolproof security and controlling crime rate, 1,000 additional personnel were being inducted in Islamabad Police besides purchasing two locators.