PESHAWAR, Dec 28: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said that the Awami National Party has always welcomed talks with Taliban to resolve issues through peaceful means. However, he said that the talks must be meaningful and for durable peace in the whole region.

He said that Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States should be on board and be very much sincere, adding that if negotiations were not successful then these three main players should unite to take a decisive action against terrorists, relinquishing the dual policy of good and bad Taliban.

Mr Hussain said this while speaking on the occasion of Khatm-i-Quran for the departed soul of Bashir Ahmad Bilour, jointly organised by ANP Peshawar district and Pakhtun Students Federation at Bacha Khan Markaz here on Friday.

The information minister said that all political parties, state organs and the whole nation should come together to develop a consensus and make a clear-cut decision to curb terrorism otherwise this menace would engulf the whole country and no one would be safe.

“All political parties of the country should unite and think in a broader perspective of national interest, as it is the issue of the very survival of the country,” he maintained.

He said that sacrifices rendered by Bashir Bilour and others for peace would not go in vain and ultimately yield fruitful results.

He said that the followers of Bacha Khan would fight the menace of terrorism till the end.

The ceremony was attended by ANP leaders, including Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel, Afrasiab Khattak, Haroon Bilour, Arbab Tahir, provincial ministers, MPAs and party workers.

Terrorism is not the issue of ANP and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa only, he said and added that if terrorism was not curbed at this stage it would spread to the whole country and no individual, political party and place would be safe.

On this occasion, prayers were offered for the departed souls.

Meanwhile, Iranian Consul General in Peshawar, Hassan Darvesh Wand, called on the information minister at his office on Friday and condoled with him on the demise of Bashir Bilour.

The consul general expressed sympathies with the provincial government on behalf of the Iranian government. He also handed over a letter of condolence to the minister from the governor of Fars addressed to the KP chief minister.