Pakistan PM Hopes For Success Of Peace Talks With Taliban

Islamabad, Feb 4, IRNA – Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif on Monday said the government was trying hard to make peace talks successful without bloodshed, reiterating that the government was all serious for dialog process with Taliban. Talking to senior writers and journalists in Lahore, Sharif said the government was serious to overcome terrorism through dialog as peace was vital to ensure revival of economy. He said restoration of peace through dialogue will the best option for the country. He welcomed the team announced by Taliban to hold talks with government’s committee and hoped the dialog will yield positive outcome. Nawaz Sharif said the government will hold talks with all seriousness to bring peace to the country. PM Nawaz has also summoned a high-level meeting to further dialogue process and review all the progress so far made in holding dialogue with Taliban. Meanwhile the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) central spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid said that the TTP will provide blanket security to peace negotiators in the areas under their control. The Taliban would ‘monitor and guide’ the five-member committee they have formed to mediate with the government’s negotiators, he added. “The TTP intends to hold serious and sincere dialog with the government and our stance is clear before the Muslims of Pakistan in this regard,” Shahid said, adding the TTP hopes the incumbent government will not repeat the mistakes committed by its predecessors./end