Pakistan to convene grand conference on security, Taliban talks

Pakistani government will convene a grand conference of mainstream political parties next week to evolve consensus on a national security policy to deal with terrorism and to discuss proposal for talks with the Taliban insurgents, officials said late Thursday.

The All Parties Conference (APC) will be held in Islamabad on Sept. 9, they said.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has talked to senior political leaders by the phone and extended invitations, they said.

He delivered invitations to the leaders from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The conference will be held at the Prime Minister's house, Xinhua reports.

The government was previously expected to hold the APC on July 12 to evolve a national strategy to curb militancy and address the overall law and order and security situation in the country. However it was delayed as the government wanted to hold more consultations to make the event successful, officials said.

The government said the APC will also discuss whether the government should opt for talks with the Taliban.

Officials said the government "has been considering various steps to formulate a consensus policy regarding terrorism in the country since it has taken over in June."

Senior military and intelligence officials will also attend the conference to brief the participants about the security situation.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed said that comprehensive strategy would be adopted against the militant outfits.