PESHAWAR: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has acknowledged a shift in government’s policy and it will now go after militant groups involved in acts of violence in their sanctuaries. But he also says that the option of dialogue is still open for those who accept the writ of the state and renounce violence.

Addressing a press conference at the Governor’s House here on Thursday, he said: “The government still believes in talks and will negotiate only with those groups who accept the state’s writ and renounce violence.”

He said that after the recent surge in violence the government decided to target the place from where the act of terrorism originated. Regardless of the place where an act of violence takes place the government will hit militants’ headquarters.

Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Governor Engineer Shaukatullah, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Chief Secretary Shahzad Arbab, Inspector General of Police Nasir Durrani and Inspector General of Frontier Corps Maj Gen Ghayur Mehmood were present at the press conference.

Earlier, the minister was briefed about security issues in the province and tribal areas.

Chaudhry Nisar said the government had taken some important decisions which would be announced in a couple of days after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met the chief ministers and took them into confidence.

About the new security policy unveiled in the National Assembly on Wednesday, the minister said that role of the centre and the provinces would be determined at the prime minister’s meeting with the chief ministers. He stressed the need for coordinated action by the federating units on security matters.

“The government is resolved to restore peace and we will do it soon,” he said.

Chaudhry Nisar brushed aside reports that security forces had launched an operation against militants in North Waziristan.

When asked about recent air strikes in Waziristan and Khyber Agency, he said security forces had to act and precision attacks would continue till other side stops violence.

He said terrorism and dialogue could not go side by side. He also said that backdoor channel with the Taliban was still intact but there was little progress.

Chaudhry Nisar said the new security policy was internal security ‘manifesto’ formulated in record time. He said there should be an institutional framework for coordination between the centre and federating units. Punjab and KP had already started their homework for implementing the new policy and he urged Sindh and Balochistan to take up the work.

About the financial cost of a rapid response force to be set up at the federal level and in the provinces, the minister said that initially it would cost Rs32 billion and the centre and provinces would share it.

He said 65 fully equipped bomb and explosives detection vehicles were being purchased for the force. The first vehicle is ready and four more would soon be gifted to the provinces.

He said the government would not ignore the requirements of the hardcore security agencies, including the Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary. The government has approved recruitment of 3,000 soldiers in the Frontier Corps. He said China had gifted some equipment which would reduce human risk.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said his government fully supported the new security policy and had assured the centre of its complete support.

He said the government should act against elements who did not accept the Constitution.

AFP adds: “We are in contact with groups that have never attacked Pakistan’s interests, we have dialogue for them.” He gave no details of which groups he meant.

“We will talk to those groups who are not against Pakistan.”

His comments could revive fears that Pakistan is maintaining a policy of distinguishing between “good” militants who can be used to further strategic goals abroad, and “bad” militants who attack domestic targets.

The minister said every act of violence would in future be met with an attack on the militants’ bases.

Commenting on the status of the dialogue between the government and Taliban representatives, Chaudhry Nisar said that while talks had been put on hold they could “resume anytime soon and both negotiations and targeted strikes will go hand in hand”.