PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said that to secure lasting peace, talks with the Taliban are necessary, DawnNews reported.

While addressing a function in Mardan, Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that invitation for talks with the Tehrik-i-Taliban, has been given with open arms.

He said that building a team for negotiations will be completed within the next twenty days.

Iftikhar also said that Taliban militants were not released but had been exchanged in a prisoner swap with the Afghan government.

During the function, Federal Minister for railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, said that Taliban commanders should come out in front themselves, rather then sending hired killers.