ISLAMABAD: Chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Monday urged the government not to use the options of dialogue and operation at the same time if it wishes to root out the terrorism and militancy.
“Using the option of dialogue and military operation simultaneously would not be a statesman-like decision. We must realize that this is not our war which we are fighting,” Khan said in his address to All Parties Conference (APC) attended by heads of over 12 political parties to devise a uniform strategy against terrorism.
Khan urged on dialogue with Taliban and militant groups and called upon the PML (N)-led government to adopt a clear-cut policy against US missile strike in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
“The missile strikes have increased our enemies. The tribal people are our people, they are patriots, only our policies have turned them into our enemies. These issues can be resolved by negotiations. We should first heal their wounds.”
“We made a big mistake by sending troops to the tribal areas. We must abandon this war and convince our people that this is not our war,” Khan urged the political leadership.
Earlier, Khan held a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who presided over the APC, and Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, minutes before the moot started.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was also present in the meeting besides Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Zaheer ul Islam.
Sources said the army and ISI chiefs briefed Khan over national security issues in a meeting which he had sought to get a special briefing on the issue of terrorism.
The session was held in-camera as media persons are not allowed in the conference. –
