By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Pakistan said on Thursday that it would not hold negotiations with al-Qaida on its territory although it is engaging in talks with local militants.
Pakistan has recently engaged in talks with militants in reclusive northwestern tribal regions and clinched deals with some militant groups.
The talks between the government and militants are “at political level”, and the government will not hold talks with al-Qaida, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq told a regular press conference.
The new Pakistani government, which took office in March, has pledged to hold talks with those militants who lay down their arms.
Meanwhile, Sadiq refused to comment on the reports that al Qaida claimed responsibility for Monday’s car bomb attack on Denmark’s embassy in Pakistan. The blast killed eight people.