Imran’s party threatens to choke NATO supply routes
Core committee meeting to discuss issue to pressure govt into announcing talks schedule.
PTI chairman Imran Khan. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday threatened to choke Nato supply routes to Afghanistan if the federal government fails to announce a schedule of talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) by November 7.
The issue of halting Nato supply is at the top of the agenda in the party core committee meeting on Sunday, November 2. PTI is deliberating as to how to mount pressure on the centre to compel the US to shut down its highly controversial drone programme.
“Imran Khan will deliver the final ultimatum to stop drone strikes on November 2 — if it remains unaddressed then the government will be facing public wrath soon,” warns PTI Deputy Secretary General Imran Ismail.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government failed to announce talks schedule with Taliban despite earning full mandate given by all political parties in recently held All Parties Conference (APC), the PTI laments.
PTI meeting will decide either to halt Nato supply routes or to set a deadline for the federal government to implement APC recommendations, Ismail added.
The party meeting will also discuss the option of military operation against militants in case the proposed talks with TTP fail, party sources said.
TTP’s sole demand of halting drone strikes should be taken seriously, said PTI Chief Imran Khan, adding that “drones are hurting the slow process of dialogue with Taliban. ”
Nisar meets UK delegation
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said drones were not acceptable to the government at any cost and the military leadership also agrees on the issue.
He conveyed this message to a British delegation comprising members of the House of Commons Defence Committee. The delegation discussed the present and future situation in Afghanistan, the aftermath of the drawdown of the Nato/Isaf forces in 2014 and the current state of relations between Pakistan and the UK, read an official statement.
Border tension
The minister also said that a similar role should be played in the context of India as Nawaz Sharif has already gone the extra mile to further the cause of peace.
While discussing the response from India on the positive statements from the Pakistan PM, Nisar said, unfortunately, the response from India is far from satisfactory and there is a constant tendency to drum up the posture of confrontation from across the border.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2013.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday threatened to choke Nato supply routes to Afghanistan if the federal government fails to announce a schedule of talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) by November 7.
The issue of halting Nato supply is at the top of the agenda in the party core committee meeting on Sunday, November 2. PTI is deliberating as to how to mount pressure on the centre to compel the US to shut down its highly controversial drone programme.
“Imran Khan will deliver the final ultimatum to stop drone strikes on November 2 — if it remains unaddressed then the government will be facing public wrath soon,” warns PTI Deputy Secretary General Imran Ismail.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government failed to announce talks schedule with Taliban despite earning full mandate given by all political parties in recently held All Parties Conference (APC), the PTI laments.
PTI meeting will decide either to halt Nato supply routes or to set a deadline for the federal government to implement APC recommendations, Ismail added.
The party meeting will also discuss the option of military operation against militants in case the proposed talks with TTP fail, party sources said.
TTP’s sole demand of halting drone strikes should be taken seriously, said PTI Chief Imran Khan, adding that “drones are hurting the slow process of dialogue with Taliban. ”
Nisar meets UK delegation
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar said drones were not acceptable to the government at any cost and the military leadership also agrees on the issue.
He conveyed this message to a British delegation comprising members of the House of Commons Defence Committee. The delegation discussed the present and future situation in Afghanistan, the aftermath of the drawdown of the Nato/Isaf forces in 2014 and the current state of relations between Pakistan and the UK, read an official statement.
Border tension
The minister also said that a similar role should be played in the context of India as Nawaz Sharif has already gone the extra mile to further the cause of peace.
While discussing the response from India on the positive statements from the Pakistan PM, Nisar said, unfortunately, the response from India is far from satisfactory and there is a constant tendency to drum up the posture of confrontation from across the border.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2013.