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BAHAWALPUR: In his first public speech since a US drone strike killed Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday warned that peace could not be achieved “by unleashing senseless force.”
The killing of Mehsud on Friday, as government representatives prepared to meet members of his Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) umbrella militant group, triggered an angry response from Islamabad.
Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar accused Washington of sabotaging peace efforts with the drone strike.
Though Sharif did not mention the drone strike directly, he stressed his desire to “give peace a chance”.
“My government is firmly resolved to bringing the cycle of bloodshed and violence to an end.
“But it cannot be done overnight, nor can it be done by unleashing senseless force against our citizens, without first making every effort to bring the misguided and confused elements of society back to the mainstream,” he said in a speech after army exercises near Bahawalpur in Punjab province.
Sharif came to power in the May general elections partly on a pledge to hold talks to try to end the TTP’s bloody insurgency that has fuelled instability in the country.
He is to hold a meeting of his cabinet security committee this evening after a furious Nisar said “every aspect” of Islamabad’s ties with Washington would be reviewed.
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Comments (24) Closed
Nov 04, 2013 04:52pm
We have seen and heard many a times where Pakistan threatens to cut off ties or review the relationship with US only to make a statement later where one more chance for a US tie can be considered. This is a pattern which will continue for years, since US wants Pakistan to be the platform to wipe terrorism and Pakistan wants US badly for their daily bread and butter. Period!
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Nov 04, 2013 04:58pm
This incompetent man is unable to achieve any meaningful result and does not have the leadership skill to take this country out of this mess
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Nov 04, 2013 04:59pm
Why should we scarify the life of our own people only for the sack of American desire
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Nov 04, 2013 05:07pm
Why should we scarify the life of our own people only for the sack of American desire
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Nov 04, 2013 05:18pm
But as soon as you have proper islam there will be peace. They are not against peace but improper islam. What does shariff and all muslims have to say about this?
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Nov 04, 2013 06:01pm
Misguided and confused people can get corrected if problem addressed at early stage. Once pampered, it starts killing at will. Subsequently no persuasion works. Think of Germany in 1938. Many Germans really believed at that time that they are superior race and only Germans can rule this planet. So force was required to control such pernicious idea. Present day global terrorists also appear to have reached such pernicious stage. They also have a doctrine to support their view. Will persuasion work at this stage ?
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Nov 04, 2013 06:02pm
give peace a chance in Kashmir
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Nov 04, 2013 06:43pm
Even Hamid Karzai had more guts to say directly to Americans that their drone strikes are doing no good.
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Nov 04, 2013 07:04pm
It is really hard for me to understand. The culprit lived in close proximity of Haqqani networks' strong hold area, killed 1000's of civilians and army personal, Haqqani network being so close to the military, area so close to a military base and this idiot remains un-noticed. Am I missing something?
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Nov 04, 2013 07:22pm
@Neil B:
Guess your comment was aimed at Indian Government.
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Nov 04, 2013 07:15pm
Mr. Prime Minister, you make me laugh with your absurd statements. saf chupte bhi nahi samney atey bhi nahi.
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Nov 04, 2013 08:03pm
@KAMRAN NAQVI: What is proper Islam?
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Nov 04, 2013 08:53pm
'give peace a chance' ? why don't you request in straightforward words to talibans to 'give you a chance' .
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Nov 04, 2013 09:13pm
Pakistan in fact is a fragmented country now. Whether it is good or bad, is yet to be determined. I hope one day we can travel from Karachi to Peshawar and in between without any fear and appreciate what it is.
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Nov 04, 2013 09:15pm
Shareef, you have 10 body guards to every member of your family, so much so that the police that was supposed to protect the public is used for your personal use. I question the people who voted for you. What did you see in this man? He does not care about your families. Today I have started counting the days left for Shareef.
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Nov 04, 2013 09:30pm
IK is the only leader who can currently lead. This is why the elections were rigged to stop him. And NS was brought to power so that same old policies of Musharraf continue. The enemies of Pakistan both external and internal do not want peace. Time for the nation to stand behind IK and block NATO supplies.
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Nov 04, 2013 09:40pm
@kayt:
What is proper Islam? The one they believe in or you believe in. In any form of Islam, there is no unjustified killing whatsoever. Period!
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Nov 04, 2013 09:51pm
Isn't he the same leader of Pakistan who "urged" the U.S. not to conduct drone strikes against Pakistan, did not get anywhere as far as the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is concerned, basically went to Washington with his hands tied behind his back - now he is calling these drone strikes as "senseless force"? Why did he have to urge, rather than demand with consequences, if the demands are not met? If we are a sovereign country, we have a right to defend ourselves against foreign invasion. When you show your weakness, this is when other countries do what they want to and you, sit and wonder why?
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Nov 04, 2013 11:19pm
The lion of Punjab should take another trip. And go check how his
looted money is safe and sound in accounts abroad. Take a large
retinue with him. They don't even accord full, head of state, honors
to him. Just minor second string officials to greet him at airports.
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Nov 04, 2013 11:13pm
Probably Nawaz want to say that force used by TTP makes sense? TTP is mass murderer, has not respect for humanity and no respect for education.If Nawaz cannot fight to eliminate TTP, then he cannot achieve peace. Peace can only be achieved by establishing writ of the state and punishing the mass murderers not by negotiating with the killers and terrorists.
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Nov 04, 2013 11:51pm
Mr.Sharif says 'peace cannot be achieved by using senseless force'. He should be telling this to someone else. Clueless guy.
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Nov 04, 2013 11:58pm
This nation is quite familiar with the use of the word " Mainstream " used by our columnists and the big leaders of political parties whenever any disgruntled situation arises in any part of the country out of the backlash of the decisions taken by the Government that sometimes seem to be repressive to their cause. The present situation is gruesome, no doubt, but the political crisis like the one we witnessed in 1971, is not that sort of crisis that could be solved through poetic rendition slogans of Islamic brotherhood, economic equality or for that matter to offer them the lessons of " Mainstream " in order to bring them back under your fold. By the way there is none who could define this word to the nation. It is superfluous, ridiculous and meaningless word repeatedly used to exploit the poor people.
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Nov 05, 2013 01:57am
@KAMRAN NAQVI:
We have sacrificed our own people for money in past and will continue to do so in future. You really believe what Civilian & Military leaders tell you. Ask them how many were killed by them?
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Nov 06, 2013 07:43pm
Dear Mr. Prime minister we need a brave upright person to lead us not like you who tries to appease terrorists
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