Imran urges Taliban to announce unconditional ceasefire

Published February 24, 2014
PTI chief Imran Khan. — File photo
PTI chief Imran Khan. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Imran Khan said on Monday that the Taliban should announce an 'unconditional ceasefire' to save the dialogue process.

Addressing media persons outside the Parliament House in the federal capital, Khan said an operation should be carried out against Taliban militants involved in terrorism while negotiations should be held with those ready for talks.

Referring to the claim of responsibility by the Mohmand chapter of the Taliban for the killing of 23 FC personnel, he said an operation could be conducted against them.

He further said the majority of Taliban militants, comprising of about 50 groups, and other tribes were in favour of dialogue, adding that the militants should be given another chance to hold peace talks.

Ups and downs were a part of the negotiation process and had he been in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's shoes, he would have led the peace talks himself, the PTI chief added.

Talking about the possibility of an operation, Khan said 80 per cent of the people displaced during the operation in South Waziristan were yet to be re-settled and the concerns of the population of North Waziristan should be considered before an operation was carried out in the region.

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