PM has given open mandate to talks committee: Siddiqui

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given the four-member committee tasked with initiating dialogue with the Taliban an open mandate, said Irfan Siddiqui.

Siddiqui, who is the coordinator of the committee told reporters during a news conference that officials from the government and Taliban should refrain from making comments which would harm the dialogue process.

He further said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif offered to meet the committee on a daily basis for an hour. According to Siddiqui, the prime minister informed the committee about measures taken for establishing peace in the country.

Siddiqui urged the Taliban to announce their dialogue committee as soon as possible. “The Taliban should inform us of their committee after the meeting of the Shura so the talks can begin. We do not want to waste time and want to listen to the Taliban’s stance and have them listen to ours.”

"The committee is ready to hold dialogue wherever the Taliban choose," Siddiqui said.

Siddiqui added that PTI chairman Imran Khan expressed confidence in the committee and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had also been taken into confidence.