Shah says easier to negotiate with Afghan Taliban than Pakistanis

Published September 11, 2013
Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah Tuesday urged the govt to hold result-oriented Taliban talks to curb terrorism and restore peace. – File Photo
Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah Tuesday urged the govt to hold result-oriented Taliban talks to curb terrorism and restore peace. – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah Tuesday said the government should hold result-oriented dialogue with Taliban to curb terrorism and restore peace in the country.

Speaking to journalists at his chamber in the Parliament House, he said, “There are two types of Taliban: Afghans and Pakistanis. It is easy to negotiate with the Afghan Taliban as compared to the Pakistanis, because there are around 59 groups operating in the country.”

Shah said the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) government had brought Sufi Muhammad to the negotiating table for 13 times, but all efforts went in vain as many agreements reached in the talks were not even adhered to by the Taliban themselves.

He urged the government to devise a mechanism to check the mushroom-growth of seminaries in the country. “The government will have to take strict decisions to improve the law and order situation in the country. The PPP will support the government in this regard as it has backed the government's stance at the All Parties Conference (APC),” he added.

NAB Chairman’s appointment

Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah signaled that the matter of appointing Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was in process and would be sorted out by September 16 with mutual understanding of both sides.

Referring to his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in NAB Chairman's appointment matter, the PPP leader termed it positive. He denied disclosing the names of the aspirants for the position, given to the government by the opposition.

Opinion

Editorial

Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.
Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...