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Pakistan's New Leaders Will Open Talks With Militants

New coalition will defy US, open negotiations

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 22, 2008 7:31 AM CDT

(Newser) – Pakistan's new coalition government says it will negotiate with the militants thought to be behind a wave of recent suicide bombings, the New York Times reports. The change in strategy will alarm US officials, who have recently stepped up strikes on suspected al-Qaeda strongholds using pilotless Predator drones. Pakistanis blame American strikes for the surge in bombings—17 since the beginning of 2008. 

The coalition aims to move away from Pervez Musharraf's Washington-friendly hardline approach to insurgents and find a Pakistani solution. "We are dealing with our own people,” one of the coalition leaders, former PM Nawaz Sharif, told the Times. “We will deal with them very sensibly. And when you have a problem in your own family, you don’t kill your own family. You sit and talk."
 

A Pakistani police officer stands guard next to a billboard with the portrait of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, outside the Parliament House, March 17, 2008.
A Pakistani police officer stands guard next to a billboard with the portrait of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, outside the Parliament House, March 17, 2008.   (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Weapons and ammunitions confiscated from militants in a search operations, are displayed for the media at an army base camp in Mingora, Pakistan, March 8 2008.
Weapons and ammunitions confiscated from militants in a search operations, are displayed for the media at an army base camp in Mingora, Pakistan, March 8 2008.   (AP Photo/Sherin Zada)
Arrested suspects, faces covered with clothes, and their confiscated weapons, rear left ,are seen at an army base camp in Mingora, Pakistan, Saturday, March 8, 2008.
Arrested suspects, faces covered with clothes, and their confiscated weapons, rear left ,are seen at an army base camp in Mingora, Pakistan, Saturday, March 8, 2008.   (AP Photo/Sherin Zada)
Pakistani police officials shows seized suicide jackets and explosives at a news conference in Lahore, Pakistan on Thursday, March 6, 2008.
Pakistani police officials shows seized suicide jackets and explosives at a news conference in Lahore, Pakistan on Thursday, March 6, 2008.   (AP Photo/K.M.Chaudary)
A soldier of Pakistan army stands over looking Pajia valley on Monday, Feb. 25, 2008.
A soldier of Pakistan army stands over looking Pajia valley on Monday, Feb. 25, 2008.   (AP Photo/Matthew Pennington)
Supporters of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's party stand around caskets of their comrades, who were killed in the suicide bombing on her homecoming parade last October.
Supporters of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's party stand around caskets of their comrades, who were killed in the suicide bombing on her homecoming parade last October.   (AP Photo)
An officials of Federal Investigation Agency examines the damages at the site of Tuesday's suicide bombing in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, March 12, 2008.
An officials of Federal Investigation Agency examines the damages at the site of Tuesday's suicide bombing in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, March 12, 2008.   (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
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Suicide blast kills Pakistani troops
BBC

Pakistan readies to choose new PM
CNS News

Pakistan militants call for dialogue with new government
Associated Press

 
Taliban • Pakistan • Pervez Musharraf • suicide bombing • Islamic extremists • Benazir Bhutto • Waziristan • Nawaz Sharif • Pakistan militants • Asif Ali Zardari • Predator • al-Qaeda • Swat Valley

 
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