Zardari rebukes reports about Pak mediating in secret US-Taliban talks
November 28th, 2009 - 12:51 pm ICT by ANI
Islamabad, Nov.28 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has rejected reports about Pakistan playing the role of a mediator in talks between the US and the Taliban.
“We are getting this news through the media … Pakistan is not on board (over this issue),” The Daily Times quoted Zardari, as saying.
Earlier, it was reported that the Central Investigation Agency (CIA) was working to hold secret talks with the Taliban leadership with the help of the Saudi leadership, the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) of Saudi Arabia, the Pakistani leadership and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), however, all such initiatives reportedly failed to yield any desired result due to the massive trust deficit between the two sides and the Taliban’s ‘obstinacy’.
Zardari also rebuked reports about the presence of Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Omar in Quetta, Balochistan’s capital.
He said the US has not provided any information regarding Omar’s presence in Quetta or any other Pakistani city.
In an interview to a private television channel, Zardari said the government is pledged to do away with the 17th Amendment and added that any decision in this regard would be taken in consultation with all political parties.
“We wanted to abolish the 17th Amendment from day one, but we wanted to do it through a unanimous decision, as the 1973 constitution was also approved unanimously,” Zardari said. (ANI)
Related Stories
- Talks fail as 'Obstinate' Taliban not ready to shun its war against US - Nov 26, 2009
- Mullah Omar not hiding in Quetta: Malik - Sep 29, 2009
- 17th Amendment would be abolished 'unanimously' in December: Zardari - Nov 28, 2009
- ISI helped Mullah Omar to escape to Karachi: US intelligence officials - Nov 20, 2009
- Pakistan denies presence of Mullah Omar in the country - Nov 20, 2009
- No ISI safe haven for Mullah Omar: Official - Sep 28, 2009
- Taliban chief Mullah Omar is in Karachi: Report - Nov 20, 2009
- 'Concerned' Pak bans US diplomat to from discussing intelligence issues in media - Oct 09, 2009
- Pakistan confirms arrest of Afghan Taliban military chief (Second Lead, Changing Dateline) - Feb 16, 2010
- US pressure led to Afghan Taliban insurgents' capture in Pakistan - Feb 19, 2010
- Two more top Taliban operatives arrested in Karachi - Mar 01, 2010
- U.S to Pakistan: `Take Care of Taliban,or We Will' - Dec 08, 2009
- Taliban's Quetta 'shura' tops US agenda for talks with Pak: NYT - Sep 25, 2009
- Pakistan court stops deportation of top Taliban leader - Feb 26, 2010
- Omar, bin Laden in 'safe havens' in Pak under patronage of political parties: Burney - Feb 22, 2010
- 17th amendment
- asif ali zardari
- balochistan
- central investigation agency
- intelligence directorate
- inter services
- isi
- mediator
- mullah omar
- obstinacy
- political parties
- private television
- quetta
- saudi arabia
- secret talks
- taliban
- taliban leadership
- television channel
- trust deficit
- unanimous decision
Posted in South Asia, |







