PTI chairman Imran Khan calls on Taliban to announce unconditional ceasefire.
Government officials and politicians on Monday denounced the killing of 23 kidnapped Frontier Corps personnel by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Mohmand Agency chapter and termed it a setback for the peace process.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan also issued a strong condemnatory statement and said that the execution of the kidnapped soldiers is against the teachings of Islam.
He hoped the government and military would let the nation know the veracity of the shocking news. He also expressed concern over the fact that these FC men had been held prisoner since 2010 in an area – Mohmand Agency – that had ostensibly been ‘cleared’ by the military.
“Yet the government at the time, the military and the present government, had all done nothing to secure the safe release of these soldiers, who seemed to have been simply forgotten,” the statement said.
The PTI chief also called on the Taliban Central Shura to disassociate itself from the 23 FC soldiers’ killing and announce an unconditional ceasefire to save the peace talks.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain also strongly condemned the killings. In a statement issued on Monday, he said the militants had killed hundreds of security officials and citizens during the course of the peace dialogue.
Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif said that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators.
In a statement, he said the country needed stability, but such acts would negatively impact the attempts to restore peace.
The minister said the nation was united and wanted progress and prosperity in the country. He said the government was serious and sincere in talks with Taliban but violence and negotiation could not go together.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2014.
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These killings can only come to an end if the Government is sincere in carrying out negotiations. These negotiations should be carried on in secret. Also the Government should put a stop to Military operations. These operations kill innocent people as well as create animosity and hatred against the Military. Any way, give peaceful negotiations a chance and this should be done. All conflicts come to any end after peace talks are held in secret. Whatever the media and political leaders say, the Government is duty bound to create peace in the country and this cannot be achieved by adopting tit for tat policy. Finally, Pakistan should come out of American war on terror and should say no to American interference. Pakistan should look to its interest first.
The monster of terrorism has not emerged suddenly but it has been nurished by petro- doller to counter the modern religious practices by progressive factions of all religions by offensive Islamic believe to cater the interests of some monarchs of the middle east . They have also kept the issue of Israiel and Kashmir alive for the same purpose . Americans initially ignored this trend to counter communism but now the same is posing threat to their interests all over the world . Now they have to reverse the trend and solve all the pending issues posing threat to the world peace . Doller and petro- dollors has to fuse togather to eliminate their past ignorance and role in the world affaires . The ongoing scatered third world war may lead to peace all over .
@Rana:
I agree 100%. Kill these rabid dogs, instead of trying to communicate with them. They are only good for shooting in the head and thats about it.
What will you expect while trying to negotiate with rabid dogs? Total termination without wasting a day is needed!!