PM tasks Samiul Haq to revive conditions for Taliban talks

Published December 31, 2013
Chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and chairman of the Pakistan Defence Council, Maulana Samiul Haq. — File photo
Chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and chairman of the Pakistan Defence Council, Maulana Samiul Haq. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday delegated Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and chairman of the Pakistan Defence Council, the task to create a feasible environment to initiate a dialogue with the Pakistani Taliban, DawnNews quoted sources as saying.

Haq met with the prime minister today and the two discussed the strategy to revive conditions to initiate peace talks with the Taliban, sources said.

Prime Minister Sharif expressed serious interest in reviving the conditions for talks with the Taliban and requested Haq to assist the government in clearing the way for such dialogue to take place.

During the meeting, the premier said talks with the Taliban was the better option and Haq assured Prime Minister Sharif that he would do his utmost to enable the process.

The JUI-S chief told the prime minister that every time the government planned to talk peace with the militants, foreign powers tried to sabotage the process.

He added that the government would have to rethink its policies against terrorism and that it would also have to halt the action against militants in North Waziristan.

Haq also stressed that drone attacks in the country’s tribal areas would have to be stopped in order to revive the conditions for peace talks.

Hours later, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said no one had been mandated when it came to talks with the Taliban, adding that a governmental team was working in this regard.

The federal minister was speaking at a an inaugural ceremony of a regional passport office in Rawalpindi.

He further said that no operation had been launched in the North Waziristan tribal region and added that soon the country would see progress on the issue of talks with the Taliban.

Opinion

Editorial

United stance
Updated 13 Nov, 2024

United stance

It would've been better if the OIC-Arab League summit had announced practical measures to punish Israel.
Unscheduled visit
13 Nov, 2024

Unscheduled visit

Unusual IMF visit shows the lender will closely watch implementation of programme goals to prevent it from derailing.
Bara’s businesswomen
13 Nov, 2024

Bara’s businesswomen

Bara’s brave women have proven that with the right support, societal barriers can be overcome.
System failure
Updated 12 Nov, 2024

System failure

Relevant institutions often treat right to internet connectivity with the same disdain as they do civil and political rights.
Narrowing the gap
12 Nov, 2024

Narrowing the gap

PERHAPS a pat on the back is in order for the ECP. Together with Nadra, it has made visible efforts to reduce...
Back on their feet
12 Nov, 2024

Back on their feet

A STIRRING comeback in the series has ended Pakistan’s 22-year wait for victory against world champions Australia....