Muslim clerics call for cease-fire between Pakistan, Taliban

LAHORE, Pakistan, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- A group of Pakistani Muslim clerics urged the government and the Taliban to call an immediate cease-fire Saturday.

The call came from clerics and religious leaders attending the Ulema and Mashaikh Conference in Lahore, the Dawn newspaper reported.

At a news conference, Maulana Samiul Haq, head of the talks committee, read a statement from the group.

"Peace talks are the only viable solution. War can never bring peace," the statement said. "Big powers have witnessed the outcome of war in Afghanistan. A military operation will only hurl the country further towards destruction. The peace process should be made successful at all costs."

The Taliban should "speak the language of peace," the group said.