ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chiarman Imran Khan on Wednesday said his party would stand by the army in case a military operation is to be launched to counter the terrorist threat, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives, Khan said the government had failed in its bid to hold talks with the Taliban, adding that his party should be taken into confidence if a military operation is to be launched.

Khan, whose party has been a longstanding advocate of dialogue with the Taliban, said anti-state elements had triumphed which could have been prevented had the government sought cooperation from the people of the tribal areas.

He said all political parties had given the government the mandate to begin talks with the Taliban, adding that although Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif circled around the world and made international visits, no good came out of these.

Khan said his party would stand by the army when times come to launch a military operation.

The PTI chief’s statement came a day after at least 40 people were killed in air strikes in North Waziristan.

The strikes appeared to be a tit-for-tat response to the militant bombings in Bannu and Rawalpindi. However, security officials have said the strikes were carried out on the basis of intelligence reports.