PESHAWAR - The component groups of Difa-e-Pakistan Council and tribal elders at a grand jirga here Sunday asked Islamabad to pull out of the so-called US war on terror, stop military operations in the tribal belt, particularly North Waziristan Agency, and initiate talks with the Taliban.
The meeting, while passing resolutions, called on the government to start talks with the Taliban in line with the decisions earlier taken by the All-Party Conference and Cabinet's committee on national security, and shoot down every US drone without accepting any foreign pressure.
The three resolutions, presented by Difa-e-Pakistan Council chairman and head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami, Maulana Samiul Haq, demanded the government that "if America doesn't halt its drones operation, then Pakistan Air Force be allowed to shoot every drone down."
In his address, Haq said the recent attack on a military convoy in North Waziristan and killings of troops was part of US conspiracies to sabotage the dialogue process with the Taliban. He demanded the ongoing operation in North Waziristan be stopped forthwith, and asked the government to announce a mega development package for rehabilitation, reconstruction of infrastructure, provision of education and health facilities in the Tribal Areas instead. A substantial compensation for the return of tribesmen should also be ensured, he opined.
Haq said the protest campaign against drone attacks would be expedited. He said DPC’s blockade of NATO supply lines through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into Afghanistan was a great success. He wished the US had stopped aid to Pakistan and let it find the path to honour and integrity. “Pakistan should come out of the so-called war against terrorism,” he demanded, and said the foreign policy also needed to be revisited in accordance with the wishes of the masses.
He said DPC would form a national jirga to step up efforts for resolution of issues confronting Balochistan and the Tribal Areas.  Criticizing pro-Indian policies of the government, Haq said ties with India should be linked with resolution of the Kashmir issue. The moot strongly condemned the execution of Abdul Qadir Molla in Bangladesh and the federal government's silence over the matter.
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch said after suffering a defeat in Afghanistan the US wanted to invade Pakistan. He was of the view that military operation could not resolve any problems but the talks process could. He urged the government to give permission for hunting US drones down. He also asked it to break the begging bowl in order to get rid of US slavery.
In his speech, retired general Hameed Gul said there was no age limit for waging jihad.  Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed said that division among political forces over the national issues was unfortunate. He called for unity on the subject of national security. He also said that blockade of NATO supply routes through KPK was producing positive results.
Saeed said the US had lost war in Afghanistan and now conspiracies being hatched to impose a war on Pakistan. Indian aggression should also be combated with full might, he asserted.
Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir premier Sardar Mohammad Atiq said the government should deploy army on eastern borders instead of western.
KPK minister Sirajul Haq stressed the need for unity among religious forces, and said if 28 countries of different ideologies could unite under the banner of NATO, then why could not religious forces in Pakistan under a single platform for the implementation of Islamic Sharia.
Ansarul Ummah, Fazlur Rahman Khalil, JI president for tribal areas Sahibzada Haroonur Rashid, general secretary Ahle Sunnat-wal-Jamaat Khadim Hussain and others also spoke on the occasion.