Pakistan’s new government said it would not negotiate with terrorist groups as part of its effort to pursue talks with Islamic militants.
The coalition government — formed by foes of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf after sweeping parliamentary elections — has vowed to review the country’s policies on fighting al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has offered talks to militants ready to renounce violence.
But in remarks on Monday that could ease concern in the West that the new government will be softer on al-Qaeda, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the offer of negotiations excludes groups that Pakistan considers terrorists.
“We will not negotiate with terrorists, but we will engage and we believe in political engagement,” Qureshi said during an interview on Dawn News television.
Qureshi did not offer any definition of terrorism.
Qureshi also said that a meeting with the visiting British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith held on Monday was “very productive.”
“On a lot of issues we’re on the same page,” he said.
Smith said she was sure the new administration “wants to do more” against terrorism.
She said Britain would urgently consider ways to boost cooperation between the two nations, saying joint efforts already have helped prevent several terrorist attacks in Britain.
In a separate meeting, Gilani told Smith that Pakistan would follow a “multi-pronged” strategy against terrorism and extremism, his office said in a statement.
Gilani urged the international community to address what he called the root causes of terrorism, such as “unresolved political issues” and economic disparities.
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