ISLAMABAD - Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid has stated that the government will continue its efforts for peace process with the Taliban. In an interview with Radio Pakistan‚ he said that the elected leadership of the country had entrusted the responsibility to the government to hold talks with the Taliban and we will make all out efforts towards this end.
To a question about drone attacks‚ Pervaiz Rashid said that the government has raised this issue bilaterally with the United States as well as at all the forums including the UN General Assembly and Security Council. He said the US had publicly declared to support government-Taliban talks. He said if the US supports the dialogue process‚ it should adopt the same posture which was demonstrated by Pakistan during US talks with Taliban in Doha.
When asked about suspension of NATO's supplies‚ he said that the decision in this regard will be taken after consultation with all the political parties and keeping in view the national interests.
He‚ however‚ said suspension of the supplies in the past did not help bringing drone strikes to halt.
He clarified that many friendly countries are part of NATO which support Pakistan's stance on drone attacks. He said Pakistan could face isolation at the international level if it suspended their supplies into Afghanistan.