May 17, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1429

KARACHI, May 16: Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar has said that the talks being held by the government with the Taliban would be of benefit to not only Pakistan but the entire world, adding that it would be prudent for the US not to raise objections to the initiative and wait for the process to be completed.

The minister was talking to media personnel at the PIA headquarters here on Friday.

He made it clear that the talks were in the interest of Pakistan because if the dialogue culminated in an agreement it would have a significant impact on the cross-border militancy.

He said this was not the first time that talks with Taliban were being held and stressed that an agreement with the Taliban would benefit the whole world and check across-border actions.

Answering a question about the recent missile attack in Damadola, the minister said the matter had already been taken up with the US. In the past also, such missile attacks inside Pakistan had been taken up with Washington. This time talks were being held with the US also to determine how the Bajaur losses could be compensated.

The defence minister rejected the Indian allegations of Pakistan Rangers’ firing across the Line of Control in the Jammu sector. He said the Indian foreign minister was coming on a visit and in the past such allegations were levelled whenever an Indian leader planned a visit to Pakistan.

Mr Mukhtar, who is also chairman of PIA, presided over a meeting at the PIA headquarters to review the national carrier’s performance.

He claimed that the airline had been plundered and urged its officers and workers to play their role in its revival. The minister, whose brother was once heading the national airline, said he had been advised to sell PIA or lease it out, but he opposed the idea.