Minister defends Taliban peace talks

Karachi: The Defence Minister on Friday defended the government decision to hold talks with the pro-Al Qaida Taliban leaders in the country's rugged northwestern region, saying that it was not just in the interest of Pakistan, but of the entire world.

Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, who is a senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), told reporters in Karachi yesterday that if the government reaches an agreement with the Taliban it would bring peace not only in the restive tribal region of Pakistan, but also in neighbouring Afghanistan.

"In the past too, there have been talks with the Taliban," he said brushing aside concerns that any talks with the Islamic militants would hurt the ongoing war against terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Western countries, especially the United States, have been pressing Pakistan to take firm action against the pro Al Qaida tribal militants who are being blamed for terrorist activities on both sides of the border.

However, Pakistani security forces had to face bitter resistance from the militants especially in the tribal belt of North and South Waziristan where hundreds of soldiers and paramilitary troops have been killed in recent months.

The militants and their sympathisers also carried out a string of suicide attacks in major Pakistani cities to avenge the crackdown in the tribal areas.

In the past, several truce agreements were made with the militants but the ceasefire always proved short-lived.

Mukhtar said the PPP-led government will raise the issue of cross-border attacks on Pakistani soil by the allied forces with the United States.

"We have raised this issue with the United States in the past, which helped reduce such incidents. This time again the issue will be raised."

The minister also dismissed the Indian allegation that Pakistan Rangers fired at the Indian troops on the disputed Kashmir border.