ISLAMABAD, Aug 13,2013 (Aamir Saeed / UPI Next) — Pakistan’s new government will convene an all-parties conference this month to draw up a formal policy on proposed talks with the Taliban, after a decade of bloodshed from suicide bombings and other attacks that have killed at least 17,000 civilians.
“We are contacting heads of all political parties for the APC and we hope it will be held soon,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Pervez Rashid told UPI Next, adding the government wants to resolve the issue of terrorism in consultation with all political parties.
Newly elected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, told Parliament shortly after winning the May 11 elections that his government was open to dialogue with the Taliban.
“If the Taliban offer us an option to have dialogue, we should take it seriously. Why can’t we talk to the Taliban to make our country peaceful?” he said, addressing newly elected legislators May 20.
Read more Pakistan Government to Hold Conference on Taliban Talks – UPI.com.
