ISLAMABAD/NOWSHEHRA
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday contacted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and exchanged views on negotiations with the Taliban, a private news channel reported.
Sources said a meeting between the PTI head and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is also expected. They claimed that Nisar contacted the PTI chief on PM’s instructions.
In either case – operation or dialogue – the PML-N was willing to take Imran Khan-led PTI into confidence, sources said.
Separately, the federal government took the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government into confidence about its decision to open direct negotiations with the Taliban.
KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has confirmed that he has been approached by the federal government.
“We have sent two names to the federal government to have our representation in the talks committee, which is expected to hold a fresh round of direct talks with the militant group,” Khattak said. He said that an announcement would be made only after the approval of the federal government.
The CM said that talks were in final phase and hoped that these efforts would help restore peace.
Meanwhile, Rustam Shah Mohmand, a member of dissolved government’s peace committee, said that the period of ceasefire should be extended.
Talking to a private news channel, he said a new government committee would be formed to hold talks with the Taliban.
He, however, added that the Taliban should be barred from further terrorist attacks to make feasible environment for negotiations.
Mohmand said the impression of operation in Waziristan should be rejected.
