Govt to take nation into confidence on Taliban talks soon: Pervaiz Rasheed

Says all institutions of the state are on the same page over Taliban talks.

The minister said talks would be held in the larger national interest and the media should avoid reporting things which could create ill will before their start. PHOTO: PID/FILE

ISLAMABAD:
Dispelling the anecdotes regarding government’s intent and unnecessary delay in initiating negotiations with Taliban, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid assured that the formal negotiations with Taliban would begin soon as the government has overcome the hurdles in the dialogue process.

“There is absolutely no question of government’s dubious intention in beginning dialogue process with Taliban as it’s a decision extracted by All Parties Conference (APC), to which all of us are committed so no one should raise doubts regarding its implementation,” said information minister.

He added that “the process of talks will be a complicated one as it’s not an ordinary matter to talk about, we took time to take every one on board and today all of us are on same page and developing consensus on all decision will be government’s top priority as the talks headway”.

Talking to media on Friday at the Parliament House, the minister said that decision to initiate dialogue was taken unanimously by the political leadership of the country and the government was mandated for the purpose.

Rasheed rebuffed Opposition's criticism, saying they had nothing better to do than to launch verbal attacks on the government by resorting to futile censure.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is the focal person for the dialogue process and he would soon take media into confidence on the issue, said Rasheed.

The minister said talks would be held in the larger national interest and the media should avoid reporting things which could create ill will before their start. He said Pakistan would itself devise policies for the eradication of terrorism from the country and there would be no foreign input.


Replying to a question, he said killing of even one Pakistani citizen in drone strikes is a matter of concern for the government.

He said it is also a question of violation of sovereignty and security of the country.

Information minister said Pakistan condemns all forms of terrorism and abide by international laws to curb terrorism and bring the culprits involved in this heinous crime to justice.

He further said Pakistan is fully cooperating with India on the issue of Mumbai attacks, as it wants to take action against culprits according to international laws.

Pakistan is an honourable member of the international community and is playing its due role to bring peace in the region and all over the world, said Rashid.

The minister further added that any culprit involved in crimes against humanity has no nationality but he is criminals and must be brought to justice.

Earlier on Thursday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the government was in contact with the Taliban and said that it would soon start structured and formal talks with them.

In a statement issued from Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Thursday threatened to cut off NATO supplies moving through Pakistan if the US launched any drone strikes during the talks.
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