PESHAWAR, Dec 30: The government should accept the offer of talks by Taliban to bring tranquility in the country, said Tehrik-i-Istiqlal central president Rehmat Khan Wardag here on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference, he said that the negotiations could be successful if government quit the war against terrorism. “The government should quit the war against terrorism as Taliban are against the intervention of the USA in Afghanistan and Iraq,” he said.

Mr Wardag said that situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan was disturbed owing to presence of the USA in the region. The government and all political forces in the country should put pressure on the US government to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and Iraq, he said.

Mr Wardag claimed that the country suffered losses worth $100 billion owing to taking part in the war against terrorism. He criticised the rulers for what he called adopting flawed policies. Negotiation was the only way for restoration of writ of the government, he added.

“Schedule for holding general elections should be announced to avoid uncertainty among the public about the future of the country,” he said.

Mr Wardag asked the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan to double the number of seats in National and provincial assemblies and Senate to ensure good governance in the country.

“The caretaker prime minister should be nominated according to the constitution. Unlawful caretaker set-up will not be accepted by the nation,” he said.

Mr Wardag said that 19 provinces should be set up in the country on administrative basis. The renaming of the province as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not minimise miseries of Pakhtuns, he said.

Flanked by provincial chairman of his party Adnan Syed, Mr Wardag asked the ANP-led provincial government to utilise natural recourses in the provinces and establish oil refineries in Kohat and Karak districts.

“Without construction of Kalabagh Dam economic stability of the province will remain a dream. Unfortunately, the issue of Kalabagh Dam has been politicised,” he said.