Addressing a presser at the Governor House in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
, the minister said despite the events of the past several days, the government still preferred the route of peace talks with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP).
Talks between government and Taliban representatives that began earlier this month were suspended after the killing of 23 paramilitary soldiers by the krazed killers.
The military responded with a series of air strikes that have left more than 100 gunnies dead, but Khan said the government was still open to talks -- with the right people.
"We will talk to those groups who are not against Pakistain," he said adding, "We are in contact with groups that have never attacked Pakistain's interests, we have dialogue for them."
He gave no details of which groups he meant.
His comments could revive fears that Pakistain is maintaining a policy of distinguishing between "good" turbans who can be used to further strategic goals abroad, and "bad" turbans who attack domestic targets.
Pakistain has come in for strong criticism from the United States and Afghanistan in recent years for sheltering and patronising turbans such as the Haqqani network, who attack NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A single organization with differing goals, equipment, language, doctrine, and organization....
and Afghan forces across the border.
On Wednesday, Chaudhry Nisar unveiled Pakistain's first-ever counter-terrorism policy, seven years since the TTP rose up and began its bloody campaign against the state.
The minister said every act of violence would in future be met with an attack on the krazed killers' bases, which lie mainly in the North
Wazoo tribal district on the Afghan border.Let's fight. I won't try to defeat you, but I'll hit you back any time you hit me.
Commenting on the status of the dialogue between the government and Taliban representatives, Khan said Wednesday that while talks have been put on hold they could "resume anytime soon and both negotiations and targeted strikes will go hand in hand."
He said the government was sincerely working towards establishing peace in the country, adding that it would remove all the stumbling blocks that lay on the road ahead.
The minister said acts of violence could not be tolerated on the country's soil and that the government would appropriately respond to any such attacks.
Nisar said security forces were being provided with the latest equipment purchased from abroad, adding that new vehicles would also be provided to the forces, including the police.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
Governor Engineer Shaukatullah, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Inspector General KP Police Nasir Durrani were also present during the press briefing.