By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani defended his government policy to hold dialogue with the militants as the previous policy of the use of force has failed to ensure peace in the tribal areas.
Gilani, who took over as Prime Minister in March, had announced in his first policy statement to hold dialogue the militants in the tribal areas and the country’s restive Swat valley in the northwest.
The United States, NATO and Afghanistan had expressed reservations over dialogue with the militants with the arguments that any deal will strengthen the militants.
“Our previous policies of force did not give results. We will talk to those who will lay down arms and will bring them to mainstream,” Gilani told reporters in Lahore.
“The whole word appreciates it, no one should object at this policy,” the Prime Minister said.
He said that root causes of the issue by holding dialogue as the strategy adopted by previous government on the issue has failed to get results.
“Even the US, Britain and other countries are also agreed with the stance of the present government that the previously adopted strategy to redress the issue has failed,” he said.
Narrating 3-point programme of his government to deal the issue of terrorism and extremism, he said, “We would hold dialogue with the people who would disarm themselves to bring them in mainstream politics, start development programme and create job opportunities on revolutionary basis.”
He said that the troops would remain present at the disturbed places but government would use them at the time of need only.