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| India-Pakistan |
| Govt makes conditional talks offer to Taliban |
| 2010-07-06 |
| The government on Monday offered to hold talks with militant groups provided that they lay down arms and accept the writ of state, after the country's top civilian leadership pondered over the question of how to stop deadly terrorist attacks on civilians at a high-level meeting. Addressing reporters following the inter-provincial meeting on law and order, Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and Interior Minister Rehman Malik renewed the government's call for talks with Taliban militants ready to renounce violence. "One thing is very clear that they will have to accept the writ of the state and surrender before the government. Our doors are open for negotiations with those who will surrender before the government," Kaira said. He also announced that the government is reactivating the National Counter Terrorism Authority to deal with the threat of terrorism. Both Kaira and Malik also vowed to restart the madrassa reforms programme, which was initiated by the previous government. However, it was shelved after failing to yield any positive result. Malik ruled out any military operation in Punjab and said that whatever action was required, it would be taken by the Punjab government. "The federal agencies will provide the provincial government all the necessary assistance," he said. He said the nexus among the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and al Qaeda was responsible for the recent gruesome terrorist attacks in the country. |
| Posted by:Fred |