The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has welcomed as a ‘good omen’ the decision of the country’s political parties to hold talks with it and other militant groups.
The TTP spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, cautiously welcomed the APC resolution and said Taliban would be willing to enter into ‘meaningful dialogue’ after the government announced its policy on how to proceed.
‘We welcome the unanimous resolution passed by the APC and will be positive in our response. We consider it is a good omen,’ he was quoted as saying in the local media. The All Party Conference, called by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, had yesterday strongly backed the government’s plans to hold talks with all stakeholders to tackle the menace of terrorism that is plaguing the country.
‘We.. repose full confidence in efforts of the Prime Minister in this behalf and call upon the Federal Government to initiate the dialogue with all stakeholders forthwith and for this purpose, authorise it to take all necessary steps as it may deem fit,’ a resolution passed by the APC said.