ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Pervaiz Rashid Tuesday said the government would formulate a policy to eliminate terrorism in the country and talks with Taliban would be held in light of the resolution adopted by the All Parties Conference (APC).
The talks are in the best national interest as consensus was reached in this regard at the APC held here on Monday, he told reporters outside the Parliament House.
He said all options, including Jirgas and contract groups would be used to hold talks with the Taliban.
Talks will be held in the larger national interest and the media should avoid reporting such things, which can create ill will before their start, said the minister.
He said Pakistan would itself devise policies for the eradication of terrorism from the country, adding that there would be no foreign input.
“The government was responsible for all the briefings given at the APC and some of them had been appreciated by the opposition, which meant that the government had been given credit.”
Rashid said that terrorists had no religion or language and “we have to eradicate all types of terrorism with national consensus.”
The minister said that details of the talks would be shared with the media and the nation as it was the right of every Pakistani to know the developments in that regard.
Replying to a question about drone attacks, he said that there was no written agreement with the United States. However, a verbal understanding might have been reached by previous governments.
“The present government's stance on drones is very clear and it has utilised the highest diplomatic channels to condemn the attacks”, he added.
Replying to a question about reported IMF conditions of imposing a new tax on gas consumers, Senator Pervez Rashid said that no new tax would be imposed.