Says ANP to support army action if dialogue with militants fails
Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan has called for devising a concrete policy before the withdrawal of United States-led NATO forces from Afghanistan.
Failing to do so would further increase lawlessness and uncertainty in the region, he said while talking to a delegation of the Charsadda Union of Journalists at his residence.
The ANP chairman said Taliban moved freely in Peshawar, Matni, Kohat and Warsak and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak called them friends and brothers which was demoralising the law enforcement institutions.
Wali said drone attacks were being carried out in Waziristan and innocent people were being killed in Peshawar and other cities.
“This will continue until the political leadership and other stake holders sit across the table and arrive at a decision,” he said.
He criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for not agreeing to attend the All Parties Conference (APC).
He said the prime minister assured that chief of army staff (COAS), Inter-service intelligence (ISI) director general and other people concerned would be present in the conference but the PTI chairman wanted to meet the prime minister and COAS General Kayani all alone to take a decision.
“Imran has no mandate from Sindh and Balochistan. Who will represent the people of Sindh and Balochistan,” he questioned.
Regarding dialogue with the militants, the ANP chairman said, “No one is opposing it but it will only be successful if the militants accept the writ of the government, the constitution of Pakistan and agree to expel Chechens, Arabs and other fighters from their areas.”
He said it was the also the state’s duty to eliminate terrorism.
He said ANP opposed militancy and sacrificed many party members, including Bashir Bilour and hundreds of workers.
“If dialogue with militants failed, the ANP would support a military operation to save the nation,” said Wali.
He said the ANP supported the Swat operation after which areas in Malakand, Bunair and Swat became relatively peaceful.
The ANP president said, “Peace in Pakistan is linked to peace in Afghanistan and until the US, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), NATO, Pakistan and Afghanistan sit and devise a concrete strategy there will be no peace in Afghanistan.”
Regarding the law and order situation in Balochistan, he said the Baloch leadership would have to be given its constitutional right to gain its confidence otherwise the situation would further deteriorate.
To a question about foreign policy, the ANP president said the former civilian government freely formulated and implemented a foreign policy without any interference from the military.
