Pakistani PM calls for dialogue to end terrorism

ISLAMABAD, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told the tribal lawmakers Wednesday that option of dialogue should be kept open to end terrorism.

Sharif invited members of parliament from the militants- infested tribal regions to seek their input for a proposed national security policy that will also include possibility of talks with the militants.

Leaders of all major political and religious parties will be invited for a grand conference to devise the policy.

"The window of dialogue should be kept open all the time," said Sharif, who had proposed dialogue with the Taliban militants during election campaign and after his election victory in May.

Pakistani Taliban, blamed for most of the terror attacks, last month withdrew their peace talks offer to the new government after a U.S. drone killed their deputy chief, Wali-ur-Rahman Mehsud.

Showing his deep pity over the lawlessness and economic backwardness prevailing in the tribal regions due to terrorism, the Prime Minister said that he wanted to give peace as a gift to the people of the regions.

He said that tribal parliamentarians are the real stakeholders and their input and consultation for finalizing road map for peace in the tribal regions is must, a statement from the PM office said.

"Peace and security are of paramount importance for economic growth as both are intertwined. Pakistan has suffered long at the hands of terrorism and we cannot afford inaction anymore. Curbing terrorism is my government's top most priority", the Prime Minister said.

Reiterating the resolve of his government to eliminate terrorism, the Prime Minister said, "We have no option except vigorously pursuing a well-planned and coordinated strategy to find a meaningful solution to the problem of terrorism."

The meeting also discussed various proposals and recommendations put forward by the tribal parliamentarians to bring the area into the national mainstream.

The parliamentarians expressed complete confidence in the leadership of the Prime Minister and further hoped that Pakistan would be able to surmount several challenges it faces under his visionary leadership, the statement said.

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