LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Ameer Syed Munawar Hasan has called upon the government to start sincere talks with the Pakistani Taliban for peace and stability in the country.

Addressing a Friday congregation at Mansoora mosque, he said that the Pakistani Taliban's offer for talks should be accepted.

"Talks should be started with full confidence in order to end terrorism in the region and for the restoration of peace in the country," he added.

He said that dialogue with the Pakistani Taliban was also necessary to overcome target killings in Karachi and Balochistan, abductions for ransom, extortion and other such serious crimes, he added.

He said that peace must be restored at every cost.

The JI Ameer also welcomed the cabinet decision to hand over Gawadar port to China and stressed upon the government to ensure implementation of the agreement, along with the security of Chinese engineers.

He said, the pact with China should also have a provision for jobs to the residents of Gawadar and other cities and towns in Balochistan.

Besides, he said, the government should also adopt other measures to remove the sense of deprivation among the Baloch people.

Munawar Hasan lauded the efforts of Saudi Arabia, and the presidents of Turkey and Egypt, for the inclusion of the Kashmir issue in the OIC group meeting agenda.

He also appreciated the effective presentation of Pakistan's stance on the issue by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar at the meeting.

The JI Ameer urged the government to tolerate the protests on the issue of drone attacks by those whose kin were being killed and houses were being razed.

He said it was a pity that US think tanks could not realize that drone attacks were increasing terrorism in the region instead of bringing the menace to an end.