Talks with Taliban have begun: Nawaz Sharif
Chaudhry Nisar says dialogue process has begun although no formal talks have occurred yet.
Government could not wait more, Prime Minister told British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in London. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
LONDON:
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif announced on Thursday that dialogue with the Taliban has started and he hoped that it will progress within the constitutional framework of the country.
The Prime Minister was talking to the British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in London.
The two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest and Nawaz apprised Clegg on talks with militants, relations with India, the energy situation and economic reforms, a press release from the Pakistan's High Commission said.
Nawaz said the government could not wait while innocent people and members of law-enforcement agencies were killed on the streets of Pakistan.
He said his government was strengthening its counter-terrorism forces and intelligence agencies to make them fully capable of rooting out extremism and terrorism from the country.
The premier also briefed Clegg on the recently promulgated Protection of Pakistan Ordinance, explaining how it was specifically designed to deal with terrorists threatening the people and the state of Pakistan.
On Pakistan-India relations, Nawaz said that he had made sincere efforts to resolve all outstanding issues with India.
"We have made India bashing a non-issue in Pakistan but unfortunately, Indian politicians are still engaged in unwarranted Pakistan bashing", he added.
UK Deputy Prime Minister Clegg told Nawaz that he and his government admired his economic reforms agenda and pro-active approach of reaching out to India before and after the elections.
No direct contact yet, says Nisar
Chaudhry Nisar briefed all political parties who participated in the All Parties Conference of September 9 that though the dialogue process with the Taliban had begun, no formal talks have occurred as yet.
"The formal talks are yet to take place but the process of dialogue has been started," said Nisar.
"We expect that the formal dialogue with Taliban will also take place very soon."
The government excused the delay in negotiations with the killing of Major General Sanaullah, the church attack and other terrorist acts, according to opposition leader Khursheed Shah, who was part of the meeting along with Farooq Sattar, Chaudhry Shujaat, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, Aftaf Sherpao and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.
Shah also said that according to Nisar, that the 'official Taliban' have 37 groups, whereas the 'unofficial Taliban' groups number over 50.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif announced on Thursday that dialogue with the Taliban has started and he hoped that it will progress within the constitutional framework of the country.
The Prime Minister was talking to the British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in London.
The two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest and Nawaz apprised Clegg on talks with militants, relations with India, the energy situation and economic reforms, a press release from the Pakistan's High Commission said.
Nawaz said the government could not wait while innocent people and members of law-enforcement agencies were killed on the streets of Pakistan.
He said his government was strengthening its counter-terrorism forces and intelligence agencies to make them fully capable of rooting out extremism and terrorism from the country.
The premier also briefed Clegg on the recently promulgated Protection of Pakistan Ordinance, explaining how it was specifically designed to deal with terrorists threatening the people and the state of Pakistan.
On Pakistan-India relations, Nawaz said that he had made sincere efforts to resolve all outstanding issues with India.
"We have made India bashing a non-issue in Pakistan but unfortunately, Indian politicians are still engaged in unwarranted Pakistan bashing", he added.
UK Deputy Prime Minister Clegg told Nawaz that he and his government admired his economic reforms agenda and pro-active approach of reaching out to India before and after the elections.
No direct contact yet, says Nisar
Chaudhry Nisar briefed all political parties who participated in the All Parties Conference of September 9 that though the dialogue process with the Taliban had begun, no formal talks have occurred as yet.
"The formal talks are yet to take place but the process of dialogue has been started," said Nisar.
"We expect that the formal dialogue with Taliban will also take place very soon."
The government excused the delay in negotiations with the killing of Major General Sanaullah, the church attack and other terrorist acts, according to opposition leader Khursheed Shah, who was part of the meeting along with Farooq Sattar, Chaudhry Shujaat, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, Aftaf Sherpao and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.
Shah also said that according to Nisar, that the 'official Taliban' have 37 groups, whereas the 'unofficial Taliban' groups number over 50.