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Govt lays out conditions for talks with Taliban

* FATA Secretariat says Taliban will have to surrender arms unconditionally, appear before political administration

PESHAWAR: The government is ready for dialogue with the Taliban, who are prepared to lay their weapons in line with tribal tradition, the FATA Secretariat said on Friday.
The government’s policy concerning dialogue with the Taliban is clear, and known to both the media and Taliban, the secretariat said in a statement.
The announcement came two days after Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Maulve Umer issued a statement, saying the Taliban were ready for dialogue if the government stops operations against them.
The secretariat said the government had never opposed peace talks with the Taliban, adding that the TTP was trying to “mislead people and win sympathy of members of the National Assembly”. The Taliban, it added, were trying to save themselves from tribal lashkars.
NWFP Governor Owais Ghani, meanwhile, chaired a meeting at Governor’s House to review the security situation in the province and FATA.
Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Muhammad Masood Aslam and NWFP Chief Secretary Sahibzada Riaz Noor attended the meeting that also reviewed the ongoing operations in Swat and Bajaur Agency.
The participants expressed satisfaction over the ongoing military operations, and praised tribesmen for forming lashkars to ensure peace in the restive areas. The meeting decided that measures would be taken to protect the public property. staff report

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