Rehman Malik urges Taliban not to recruit kids for suicide attacks

Help children in their education instead of preparing them for suicide attacks, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik has advised the Taliban.

He urged the insurgents to give up violence and play a positive role in the country's development.

He was speaking Saturday at an inaugural ceremony of a passport office in Islamgarh town of Mirpur district.

He said: "We want the youth of Pakistan to carry a book and pen instead of suicide jackets."

The Prime Minister of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, Abdul Majeed, also attended the function.

The passport office will benefit thousands of Kashmiris who are based in Britain and hail from the Islamhgarh region, the official APP news agency reported.

Malik said the suicide attacks have reduced considerably in Pakistan after the government adopted the reconciliation policy of President Asif Ali Zardari. And has since, the country enjoyed stability and prosperity.

He recalled that Pakistan was on the verge of plunging into further chaos when the Pakistan Peoples Party came into power. The law and order situation was worsening and the economy was in bad shape, he said.

But the PPP-led government managed to bring terrorism under control after relentless efforts, he added.