NOWSHERA, July 11: US Ambassador Richard Olson on Thursday called on Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami chief Maulana Samiul Haq.

According to a news release issued by Darul Uloom-i-Haqqania here, the two discussed the wide-ranging issues, including peace talks with Afghan and Pakistani Taliban, during the meeting, which lasted two hours and 10 minutes.

The PML-N-led federal government’s foreign and internal policies and the US relations with Pakistan and other Islamic countries also came under discussion.

Mr Haq told the ambassador that drone attacks by the US in Pakistan’s tribal areas were counterproductive and therefore, they should be stopped at once.

He said an atmosphere favourable for peace talks could not be created until the drone attacks were stopped.

The release said the US ambassador agreed to most of the suggestions made by the JUI-S chief and said he would apprise the US administration of them.

It said the ambassador said the US talks with the Taliban at their Qatar office had yet to be initiated.

According to the release, Mr Olson said Mr Haq’s support would be needed to make the US talks with Afghan Taliban meaningful.

It said the JUI-S chief voiced concern over political turmoil in Egypt and said military interventions were a hindrance to the flourishing of democracy in the Muslim world.

Treasure of the university Akbar Khan and registrar Bahadar Shah also spoke on the occasion.olonged loadshedding in the province and discussed a joint strategy to solve the problem.