Pak still committed to talks with militants, minister says

Hours after a deadly suicide bombing killed 78 people here, Pakistan's Federal Interior Minister today said that the government was committed to the difficult choice of pursuing negotiations with the Taliban.
Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan said Pakistan has opted for talks with the militants in the quest for peace as picking war as an option was easy.
Khan dashed to Peshawar to visit the victims of the church blast that killed 78 people and injured another 176.
Talking to media after visiting the injured at Lady Reading Hospital, the minister assured full support and medical assistance to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government in providing best medical facilities to the injured.

"I have no words to condemn this inhuman and barbaric act and who are these brave people who are killing innocent children, women and aged people?
"The decisions to hold talks with the militants were taken unanimously in the All Parties Conference which has representation of all the political entities of the country including the military leadership.

"There is no ambiguity at all in the joint resolution adopted by the APC as all the political entities of the country put their weight behind it.
"The decision to go for talks was though difficult yet it was taken in the greater interest of the country. We choose the difficult decision," he said adding war was an easy option to pursue.

He said that security of places of worship of minorities is being reviewed as these are considered soft targets.
Khan said that security plan for churches and other worship places would be evolved in coming few days.
He said that federal and provincial governments would supplement and complement each other in this regard.
The minister strongly condemned the perpetrators of the incident saying they have nothing to do with a religion, caste or creed.
Khan said the federal government would bear the expense for the reconstruction of the damaged church.