A tribal assembly in Pakistan this week has opposed ongoing military operation by Pakistan against the Taliban and are urging the government to hold talks with the militants to resolve the issues. The security forces have recently launched a major operation against the Taliban in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). A 'jirga' (tribal assembly) was organised by a conglomeration of different political parties in Peshawar and they supported talks with the Taliban militants. The parties included Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami National Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and both factions of the Pakistan Muslim League. The 'jirga' rejected the newly-introduced regulations and demanded that the government carry out political and administrative reforms in the region. In a joint declaration it urged the government to bring insurgents to the negotiating table.
Pray: for restrained Taliban members to move responsibly towards peaceful negotiations in the region. (Pr.1:10)