Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Sunday said that indirect talks with the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban were under way and tomorrow (Monday) the government would meet to discuss this issue.

“Tomorrow [Monday], at 2pm we have a meeting on this issue. I am going there and everybody will be coming. We have indirect talks with them [TTP] but not direct,” he said while responding to questions related to talks with the TTP and border fencing at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border during a press conference in Karachi.

The interior minister shared the government’s intention to complete the border fencing work by mutual consideration. He was of the view that many lives have been lost and a huge amount has been invested in the construction of the border fencing.

“In the prevailing situation in Afghanistan, we invited the whole world to Pakistan and we want to help the Taliban and they have ensured us that their soil won’t be used against Pakistan,” he added.

According to media reports, Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban authorities earlier this week resolved the border fencing issue by agreeing that further fencing would be done through consensus.

Pakistan has been fencing the 2600-kilometre-long border with Afghanistan since 2017 to end terrorist infiltration and smuggling despite very intense opposition from Afghanistan. The reports added that the fencing was expected to be completed at a cost of about $500 million.

Rashid was also posed with a question related to starting talks with MQM founder Altaf Hussain amid peace overtures offered to the outlawed TTP.

“It’s a difficult question,” he said adding that talks cannot be held with Altaf because he had been facing many cases.

Rashid was of the view that the MQM founder’s actions had caused unrest in the country.

On Sunday at the Mohajir Culture Day rally in Karachi, PTI lawmaker Amir Liaquat said that if negotiations could be held with the TTP then it could also be held with Altaf. It caused a mixed reaction on social media as some expressed concerns about the demand and some considered it appropriate.

During the presser, Rashid spoke about the apparent development relating to former PM Nawaz Sharif’s return to the country, PTI’s defeat in K-P LG polls, and inflation.

“I offer a ticket to Nawaz Sharif if he wants to come back. I will issue the visa in 24 hours if he wants to return,” he said, reiterating that Prime Minister Imran Khan would complete his five years.

His statement came after PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq speech at an event where he had said that party supremo Nawaz Sharif was returning to Pakistan.

“Even those who are against our governance or politics also have no doubt that families of Nawaz and Zardari are corrupt, dishonest, sluggish, and extravagant,” Rashid said.

Moreover, he lamented that the government could not “explain its achievements” to the public that apparently resulted in the PTI’s defeat in the LG polls. Leaders could not convey the government’s achievements of Ehsaas programme, dams construction and relief to the public in a proper manner, he added.