Pakistan religious leaders oppose use of force against Taliban

The heads of about 30 religious parties and groups in Pakistan have opposed use of force against militants.

Religious leaders said that in case the ongoing peace talks between the government and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan end in failure force should not be used against the militants.

According to Dawn News, the demand came in the wake of perception that the government could consider carrying out a military operation against the Taliban if an agreement is not reached.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan and other mainstream leaders have agreed to give peace a chance before considering use of force against the militants, especially from North Waziristan.

However, the clerics, in a meeting chaired by the chief of the Taliban's negotiating committee, Maulana Samiul Haq, unanimously opposed launching a military operation against the Taliban in case there was no breakthrough in the talks between the government and TTP teams, the report added.