PIND DADAN KHAN: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday asserted that the government would proceed for reconciliation with groups of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (PPP) who accept law and Constitution of Pakistan.
Fawad made these remarks to give context to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s earlier statement in which he revealed that the government was in talks with some groups of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Addressing a public meeting in Pind Dadan Khan, the minister said for durable peace it was imperative to hold talks with those elements who were ready to surrender arms and believed in rule of law and supremacy of the constitution.
He said more than 3000 disgruntled Baloch youth had surrendered arms and rejoined the national mainstream. He said his step was vital to save the new generation from terrorism and violence and pave the way for stronger Pakistan.
The minister said Pakistan’s positive role in Afghanistan was evident before the entire world and was being acknowledged. He said Pakistan bore the brunt of Afghan’s war as martyrs of war against terrorism were buried in almost every graveyard in the country.
He said since 2005 Prime Minister Imran Khan was calling for political solution of Afghanistan problem but the world did not paid heed, adding, when Imran Khan assumed office in 2018 he asked the then US president Donald Trump to start dialogue.
The minister said finally US and Taliban sat on the negotiation table due to the efforts of Pakistan. “It was great achievement of the political and military leadership of Pakistan that US troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan was completed without any bloodshed,” he added.
“Pakistan was lucky to have leader of the stature of Prime Minister Imran Khan whose voice was heard all over the world,” he said, adding that the international community was looking towards Prime Minister’s sagacity for resolution of regional problems.
The federal minister further said “when Imran Khan speaks on environment, Afghanistan, Kashmir or Palestine issues, not only Muslims Ummah but entire international community pays heed to him”.
He said nations needed leaders of high stature and international reputation to convey their viewpoint at international forums. He said Pakistan needed continuity in politics and economic policies.
Speaking of the economy, he said due to loot and plunder of former rulers belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan’s economy was not strong enough to bear the brunt of more Afghan refugees.
He said top leadership of other political parties including PPP and PML-N was in the hands of political novices like Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Maryam Safdar who had no experience and could not understand complexities of global politics.
The minister appealed to senior leaders of both the parties not to follow them as Pakistan was not a monarchy and leaders could not be chosen on the basis of wills ot telephone calls.
