Summary The interior says that the first formal talks with Taliban will be held soon.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that there is no issue of venue and deadlock regarding negotiation with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Addressing a press conference at National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on Friday, he said that first formal direct talks between the government and Taliban would be held soon. The interior minister said that the negotiation committees of government and Taliban would also meet soon.
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that both sides were progressing ahead rapidly and many of the misgivings, misconceptions and questions would stand removed about the dialogue process. He said this is the most sensitive phase of the dialogue.
Replying to a question, the interior minister said the other side has adopted a policy of non-violence and this has led to improvement in the situation.
He said there are still some forces that want to sabotage the dialogue process by way of terrorist activities. He said these forces are on our target and if they did not mend their ways then action will be taken against them.
Meanwhile, talking to media in Lahore on Friday, Federal Information Minster Pervaiz Rashid said that positive result should be expected from peace talks between the government and Taliban. He said that the government wants to restore peace in the country without any bloodshed.
Pervaiz Rashid said that the brotherly countries have always been supporting Pakistan during difficult times and financial aid was not a new phenomenon.
Moreover, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that negotiations with militants will be successful if done by addressing militants instead of Taliban and that if task is assigned to the local tribal jirga.
Addressing a press conference at Madrassa Qadria Hanfia in Multan on Friday, he said that he has advised the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to bring army on board for success of dialogue, adding that governments keep changing.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed that a psychological war is being fought in the name of negotiations, adding that he is against this mechanism of dialogue.
The JUI-F chief said that currently the negotiations are being held between non-stake holders and non state actors.
He said that negotiation committee is dissolved while admitting defeat and that the dialogue is stuck because of petty matters at this time.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that his party is the biggest proponent of dialogue and that his party is willing to play a role if government changes its mechanism.
On the other hand, talking to media at Karachi airport, former interior minister Rehman Malik, while expressing his views over the Taliban's demand for a suitable place to hold peace talks, said that the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is a terrorist organization and its activists should be put behind bars.
The PPP leader said that the Taliban deserved to be in jails and they should also be beaten up in police station.
Rehman Malik said that he had no doubt over the intentions of the current PML-N-led government, however, the TTP had been breaking agreements with the government.
