ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Thursday night affirmed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif his every possible assistance in negotiating a peace deal with the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, DawnNews reported.

He was quoted by a press release issued by JUI-F’s media centre as saying the government must confirm first which Taliban group they need to talk to and at what forum.

The meeting is considered crucial in the wake of Punjabi Taliban leader Asmatullah Muawiya’s sacking by the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for welcoming the government’s offer of peace talks.

The two leaders discussed possibilities of JUI-F joining the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government at the centre and overall political situation of the country among other matters of mutual interest.

The JUI-F chief offered his every possible help and cooperation to PM Sharif for peace talks with the militants, said the press release.

“Top political and military leadership must adopt same stance for the talks,” he opined.

Fazlur Rehman apprised the premier that there was a trust deficit among the Pakistani Taliban ranks against the government. A network for contacts must also be evolved for the peace talks, he suggested.