http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\01\26\story_26-1-2010_pg1_1
Tuesday, January 26, 2010 Ready for talks with reconcilable Taliban' * Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey vow to tackle terrorism in all its forms, enhance indigenous capacities to that effect ISTANBUL: The government is willing to talk to those Taliban who are ready to give up their way of life and are reconcilable, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Monday Addressing a joint press conference with presidents Abdullah Gul of Turkey and Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan at the conclusion of the fourth Trilateral Summit, President Zardari said, "Dialogue, development and deterrence were the three pillars of Pakistan's 3-D policy." Answering the question as to whether the Pakistan government would enter into dialogue with any group, the president said, "We cannot distance ourselves from dialogue and talk about only war." He said, "If there are people who want to give up their way of life and are reconcilable, the government will talk to them." To another question, President Zardari said the Swat operation was an entirely indigenous operation carried out by the Pakistan Army, with no foreign soldiers or firepower involved. Declaration: In a joint declaration after the parleys, the three countries reiterated their determination to tackle terrorism in all its forms and the importance of enhancing indigenous capacities to that effect. Zardari was confident that the Trilateral Summit would yield desired results in enhancing cooperation among the three countries and to facilitate the restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan. "The efforts of Turkish leaders to use their good offices to bring together Pakistan and Afghanistan to find a solution of their problems was commendable," he said. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his government would be willing to enter into talks with those Taliban who are ready to lay down their weapons. He said his government might also request the UN Security Council to remove such groups from the list of those identified for sanctions. Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Tuesday's Regional Summit involving Afghanistan and its six immediate neighbours was not a prelude to the forthcoming London conference on Afghanistan. "The two events are not related to each other but the organisers of the London moot could benefit from the discussions here", he said.He said the Trilateral Summit would continue making tangible progress towards strengthening ties among the three countries and to broker a durable Pak-Afghan peace and harmony. app [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
