ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said on Wednesday that his party would stand with the military during an operation against Taliban.

But he urged the government to take him and leaders of other major political parties into confidence if it had decided to a launch military operation in North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

Talking to reporters at a local hotel, he said that it appeared increasingly that the government had made up its mind to use force against militants in the NWA which would be an “unfortunate development”.

“Whatever the case, the PTI stands with the army,” he said and added that if the government had decided to use military against militants it should take political leadership of the country on board.

Criticising the PML-N government for its failure to open talks with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Mr Khan said those elements who had opposed talks from day one must be happy over the latest developments.

Recalling the September all-party conference in which political leadership of the country had mandated the government to hold negotiations with the TTP, he said it was the government’s responsibility to make talks possible.

But instead Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif remained busy in futile foreign trips. “What purpose the trips have served for the country,” asked Mr Khan.

Recalling the PTI’s policy on dealing with the TTP, he said war against terrorists could be won with the help of tribesmen.

“I have been repeatedly saying that before launching an operation, pro-talks Taliban and those who refuse to lay down arms should be separated but the government doesn’t listen to me.”

It is pertinent to note that the PTI leadership has recently started openly criticising the TTP for its attacks against innocent civilians and army personnel.

On Tuesday, PTI core committee lambasted both the TTP and the government for damaging any chances of peace talks. The PTI leadership particularly condemned Taliban attacks against army personnel.

And now the party has offered support to the army if it is sent to the NWA to crush militants with a caveat that it should also be taken into confidence.

When asked, a PTI leader said Mr Khan had never endorsed attacks by the banned organisation but he differed on the tactics to handle it.

“People voted us into power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to bring peace in the violence-hit province, therefore, the party always supports peaceful means and cannot publicly advocate use of force.

“But if the government genuinely believes it can end terrorist acts, particularly suicide bombings, by using army in the NWA, it has the right to do so,” he said.

On the other hand, the government clarified on Wednesday that ongoing military strikes in North Waziristan Agency were in retaliation for the Taliban’s recent attacks on security personnel.