ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has reiterated the government’s stance that bloodshed and dialogue with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan cannot go together, but expressed the hope that deadlock in the peace process will end soon.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he said violence and talks were opposed to each other and, therefore, killings must be stopped to pave way for resumption of peace process. He indicated that contacts with Taliban at some level were still intact, which apparently was the basis of his optimism. “I still think that the dialogue process will be on track again. I am very hopeful,” he added.

Chaudhry Nisar said the committee formed to hold talks with Taliban was still intact and the decision to suspend talks had been taken because of the recent incidents of terrorism. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, after consulting the military leadership and members of the government committee, had decided that the dialogue process could not go ahead in such an environment.

Chaudhry Nisar said that in his last address the prime minister had made it clear that the continuation of dialogue in the prevailing situation would be injustice to the victims of terrorism.

The minister said the government had started the dialogue process with sincerity, adding that the demand for ceasefire from the government side was meaningless because no military operation had taken place since September last year and even the normal movement of troops had been stopped to avoid giving an impression about mobilisation of troops. “I don’t know what kind of ceasefire the other side wants,” he said, adding that the right of security forces to act in self-defence could not be taken away.

He appreciated the positive role played by the negotiators nominated by Taliban and said they had a deep desire for peace. “Their role remained very positive.”

Chaudhry Nisar regretted that despite sincerity and open-heartedness of the government committee, terrorist attacks continued. He said dialogue was the first option for the government and the military leadership, but no-one should have any misunderstanding about the capability of the armed forces.

He said PTI chief Imran Khan’s statement about army’s capacity was misleading. He explained that the former army chief had said that an operation in North Waziristan could immediately lower the level of terrorism across the country by 40 per cent because militants would not be able to maintain their contacts with their headquarters.

He said the government had been criticised for ‘not doing anything’ at a time when it had received written letters from Hakeemullah Mehsud and the contact with Taliban was continuing. The talks were kept secret on the demand of the other side, he claimed.

He said he still believed that talks should not be held under media glare. He regretted that the dialogue process had been sabotaged by a drone attack and said he had raised the issue with US officials without mincing words. He said Pakistan had also conveyed its concern to the United States over the protocol given to some separatists there.

The minister said the government continued to be in contact with the groups and tribal leaders open to talks, and Taliban finally conveyed their readiness for talks which had now been stalled by actions of the other side.

He said coordination among intelligence agencies had improved because of various steps taken by the government. Thousands of terrorists, target killers and criminals were arrested in Karachi due to proactive and focused efforts made by intelligence agencies.

The minister said a joint intelligence directorate would be set up to coordinate work of 26 intelligence agencies working in the country.

He indicated that the first-ever national security policy would be approved by the cabinet next week.

Chaudhry Nisar said the United Kingdom had sought legal assistance from the Pakistan government in the Imran Farooq murder case.