ISLAMABAD: After US, Pakistan is expressing interest to initiate talks with Taliban.
Pakistan’s top diplomat Shahryar Khan said yesterday that the newly-elected Nawaz Sharif-led civilian government is ready to hold talks with “moderate Taliban”.
He himself then added “however we don’t know whether to call Mullah Omar a moderate Taliban”.
Omar has insisted the militants had no desire to grab power after Nato troops leave. Khan, who has recently been appointed by Sharif as special envoy to India, however admitted that majority of the Taliban isn’t moderate.
Replying to a question Shahryar said “Pakistan is in favour of discussions with moderate Taliban.
However, a significant number of the Taliban - almost 60 percent aren’t moderate and kill everyone. But we want to initiate dialogue with those who are moderate. A section in that group who are looking for a political arrangement”.
The admission comes soon after America Taliban’s arch enemy — expressed plans to meet the organisation behind the 9/11 attacks.
The US was to meet the Taliban for talks aimed at achieving peace in Afghanistan.
US-led forces have been tied in a bloody war with insurgents in Afghanistan for the past 12 years.
The talk came in the shadow of plans of US and its Nato allies of leaving Afghanistan by December 2014 bringing an end to foreign combat operations.
However the move angered Hamid Karzai’s led Afghan government leading to the talks being deferred. AFP
