Pakistani religious leaders seek ceasefire

Bs_logoImage
Press Trust of India Lahore
Last Updated : Feb 15 2014 | 7:54 PM IST
Top Pakistani clerics and religious scholars today asked both the government and the Taliban to immediately declare a ceasefire, saying it was necessary for the success of the ongoing peace process.
"We appeal to the Taliban to speak in the language of peace," said a joint statement issued after a meeting here of Ulema and Scholars Convention.
The meet was chaired by hardline cleric Samiul Haq, a member of the committee nominated by the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for talks with state negotiators.
The clerics and scholars sought the Taliban's support for the restoration of peace and said a ceasefire was necessary for talks to be successful.
The statement placed responsibility on both the government and the Taliban to ensure that the peace process, aimed at ending a decade-old insurgency, was not interrupted.
The statement also called on both sides to avoid the use of force if talks failed.
"Peace talks are the only viable solution...War can never bring peace," said Haq, flanked by religious leaders like Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawar Hassan and Allama Tahir Ashrafi.
"Big powers have witnessed the outcome of war in Afghanistan. A military operation will only push the country further towards destruction. The peace process should be made successful at all costs," he added.
The Taliban committee and state negotiators have held preliminary discussions on a roadmap to end violence in the country.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on his way back from an official visit to Turkey, told Geo news that recent terror attacks were detrimental to the peace process.
He described the attacks as "shocking" called for them to be stopped immediately. He said he wanted an end to the killing of innocent Pakistanis.
Sharif said there was complete harmony between his government and the military over the peace talks.
Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Access to Exclusive Premium Stories

  • Over 30 subscriber-only stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Feb 15 2014 | 7:54 PM IST