Formal talks between govt, Pakistan Taliban to start this week

The army had earlier resisted its inclusion in the government's negotiating team.

However, at a later stage it agreed to assign a mid-ranking officer, though still not officially part of the negotiating team, for what is being described as “institutional support”.

Meanwhile, Nisar also sought to dispel fears that Islamabad was not safe.

“The subzi mandi blast happened on the outskirts of the capital,” he said while claiming that Islamabad was safe.  He added that special commandos have arrived in the federal capital and more will come soon.