Will give talks with Taliban another chance: Pakistan PM Sharif

Announcing the setting up of a committee to oversee peace talks, he said Irfan Siddiqui' Rahimullah Yusufzai' Rustam Shah Mehmand and Major Amir would be its members.  

He said that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan will coordinate the working of the committee.  

The Prime Minister said that the government has adopted the path of talks with the Taliban to give peace another chance in the larger interest of the country despite “bitter experience of the past”.

Responding to his speech, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said talks should be open and transparent.  Sharif said he also feels the same and it should be time bound but not for too long.

The Prime Minister said ensuring security to people is of prime importance to the government.  

He criticised the Taliban for the recent spate of attacks noting that Major General Sanaullah, an army officer fighting the militants, was assassinated by the banned group and “they accepted responsibility with pride”.