Peace dialogue to be taken forward: Cabinet

 

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet on Monday decided to honour the decisions taken by the All Parties Conference (APC) and carry forward the peace dialogue without letting this process derailed.

“Pakistan has the right to take its decisions on its own according to its interests”, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said while addressing a special meeting of the federal cabinet here.

“If there cannot be cooperated with the process we have initiated to end terrorism by leaving the path of revenge, it should at least not be damaged”, he remarked.

The Prime Minister said the continuation of an unfortunate and condemnable practice of the drone attacks manifested that Pakistan’s view point for the permanent elimination of terrorism and the establishment of durable peace was not understood.

The recent APC depicted that the entire political and military leadership as well as the masses, media and civil society wanted to resolve the issue of terrorism through serious and meaningful dialogue, he said, adding, the whole international community also wanted the elimination of bloodshed.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan has paid the highest price of terrorism, rendering unmatchable sacrifices.

“We are fully alive to the severity of the issue, but we should be let to address our problems according to our own strategy”, he maintained.

The Prime Minister recalled his recent statement, in which he revealed the start of peace dialogue, adding, “The ice was melting and contacts had been established from both the sides.”

“Amidst this scenario, the drone strike inflicted serious damage to the government’s efforts for dialogue and peace”, the Prime Minister remarked.

He, however, expressed his confidence that “we will not let the efforts for dialogue and peace to be derailed.”