Parties meet to discuss TTP's talks offer

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ISLAMABAD, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Pakistan's major political parties met Thursday to discuss an offer of talks by the Pakistani Taliban, blamed for the deadly violence in the country.

Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported most of the major political parties and representatives from bar associations planned to attend the conference in Islamabad organized by the Awami National Party.

The conference was called to come up with a joint strategy to deal with the menace of terrorism and to discuss the recent talks offer by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, the report said.

"Of course, the peace talks offer made by the Taliban will be discussed at the conference," ANP's parliamentary leader in the Senate Haji Mohammad Adeel told Dawn.

He said his party expected terrorism has severely affected the national economy and taken a huge human toll.

Adeel said all major parties including the ruling Pakistan People's Party had accepted the invitation to the conference.

In its recent offer, the TTP, through its spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, expressed willingness to hold talks with the government if former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other key politicians agreed to act as guarantors, the report said.