Haqqani Network, Quetta Shura must for success: Kh Asif

RAWALPINDI: Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif has said that talks with the Taliban would be successful only if the Haqqani Network and Quetta Shura become part of the process.
He said that Pakistan was making efforts afresh to get talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban initiated.During his recent interview with BBC, Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan was playing a positive role in reconciliation efforts adding that the possible talks would not be successful unless all the factions of the Taliban, including the Haqqani Network and the Quetta Shura, were included in it.
He termed it useless to keep any of the groups away from these talks.Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan would perform its positive role in restoring peace and bringing reconciliation between the Afghan government and the Taliban through dialogue and would perform a constructive role wherever a need was felt for it.
To a question as to when these talks would start, he confirmed that the process of contacts had been initiated. However, it was a sensitive issue and he would be careful about assumptions and said that it was their utmost desire to bring all of them to the negotiation table.To a question on the Haqqani Network, the defence minister said that Pakistan had never acknowledged this group and wanted its elimination.
APP adds: Meanwhile, Khawaja Asif said that ties between India and Pakistan could strengthen if they worked sincerely. He said that an extraordinary increase in the Indian defence budget showed its intentions, adding that other regional countries would follow suit.
He said that the increase in the Indian defence budget was a cause for concern for all the regional countries. He said that India was snatching morsel of bread from the mouth of the poor by increasing its defence budget extraordinarily. He termed the increase unproductive, which forced other countries to follow the same policy.
To a question regarding the government’s action against those militant groups that challenge the state’s writ, the minister said that extremist organisations couldn’t be eradicated until elimination of fundamentalism, the state-run radio reported.