Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawar Hasan on Friday urged the government to start talks with the Taliban so that those spilling blood in the name of Taliban could be exposed. Addressing the Friday prayers at Mansoora mosque, he said that Taliban’s offer for talks should be accepted forthwith, and the armed forces should also create an impression that could restore confidence and ensure the success of the talks. Talks should be started with full confidence to end terrorism in the region and for the restoration of peace and law and order in the country, he added. He said that the Taliban had certain reservations regarding the armed forces because of their past attitude which should be removed so that the Taliban could believe that the Pakistani government was sincere. Dialogue with the Taliban was also necessary to overcome the target killings in Karachi and Balochistan, abductions for ransom, extortion and other such serious crimes, he added. He said that peace was the need of everybody and it should be restored at any cost. He said the armed forces had tolerated the NATO attack at Salala check post and did not even protest over that. Besides, despite knowing the assailants of the Abbotabad and naval headquarters’ attacks, a policy of retreat was adopted. He said to say that the Taliban did not keep their word was a one-sided view. The JI chief also welcomed the cabinet decision to hand over the Gwadar Port to China and stressed upon the government to ensure the implementation of the agreement along with the security of the Chinese engineers. Besides, he said, the pact with China should also have a provision for jobs to the residents of Gwadar and other cities and towns of Balochistan.
