MPs ask US Gen to talk to Taliban

ISLAMABAD - David McKiernan, the commander of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, Thursday said the war on terrorism could not be won without Pakistan’s support and US-led allied forces were ready to help Islamabad.   
Briefing a group of Parliamentarians here at US Embassy on the war on terror, the NATO Commander commended the role of Pakistan Army in carrying out operations in the restive tribal areas and some parts of NWFP, but desired to improve the intelligence cooperation.    
The NATO Commander’s briefing to the parliamentarians also came under fire in Senate when Leader of the House Senator Raza Rabbani stated that the NATO and US Embassy had bypassed the Foreign Office in holding the briefing. Senator Professor Khurshid of Jamaat-I-Islami raised the issue in the Upper House that it was better to consult Foreign Office in arranging the briefing.   
David McKiernan, the commander of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, arrived here on Thursday on a 2-day visit to talk to Pakistani leaders amid the spiralling missile strikes, which have triggered anger and protest across the country.
Pakistani parliamentarians asked the NATO commander to initiate a dialogue with all the militants’ groups including Taliban for making a long-lasting peace in the tribal areas of Pakistan and also in Afghanistan.