Interior Minister Rehman Malik. — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday said dialogues have already been offered to the Pakistani Taliban but these cannot happen unless the militants throw away their arms and give up terrorism.

“There is nothing formal regarding talks with the Taliban. The Taliban usually send messages to us and I also sometimes convey them a message so that peace could prevail. But it is clear that if the Taliban want to shake hands with us they would have to get rid of their arms,” he said.

The minister was responding to questions raised after inaugurating a ceremony where 50 new Mobile Registration Vans (MRVs) were added in the fleet of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to facilitate the population settled in remote areas.

“Few days back we received a message from the Taliban for talks and yes we also offered them. We are happy they have realised that killing innocent people is wrong and the only way forward is the path of peace,” he said.

The minister said he could not say much on the issue and added that all the stakeholders would sit together to find an amicable solution.

Opinion

Editorial

Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...
Ties with Tehran
Updated 24 Apr, 2024

Ties with Tehran

Tomorrow, if ties between Washington and Beijing nosedive, and the US asks Pakistan to reconsider CPEC, will we comply?
Working together
24 Apr, 2024

Working together

PAKISTAN’S democracy seems adrift, and no one understands this better than our politicians. The system has gone...
Farmers’ anxiety
24 Apr, 2024

Farmers’ anxiety

WHEAT prices in Punjab have plummeted far below the minimum support price owing to a bumper harvest, reckless...