By IANS,
Islamabad : The Afghan Taliban were not involved in any kind of activities inside Pakistan but the Pakistani Taliban are being controlled by “foreign intelligence agencies”, a Pakistani politician has alleged.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan is “playing in the hands” of foreign intelligence agencies against the interests of the country, Dawn News quoted Asif Fasihuddin Wardag, central president of the Tehrik-e-Istiqlal party, as saying.
Wardag said countering terror with force would breed more terror, while dialogue and development programmes in the far-flung tribal areas would be the “most appropriate” or the “only option” to end extremism.
“We can still persuade our brethren in tribal areas for peaceful dialogue, as military operation will shed the blood of Pakistanis on both sides,” he said.
“Taking up development programmes in those areas would be a first confidence building measure.”
Wardag said there was no unrest in the northwestern tribal belt till the launching of military operations by former president Pervez Musharraf.