Sami Ul Haq was given the task of initiating peace talks with Taliban in December by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

"The government does not seems serious and concerned. I had requested them to avoid a military operation and use of force but yesterday it started bombing in North Waziristan and tribal areas," Haq, who is also chief of his own faction of the religious Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S) party, said in a statement sent to AFP.

The air strikes in the North Waziristan and Khyber tribal regions on Tuesday were retaliation for two major Taliban attacks on military targets in as many days. But Haq said more fighting was not the answer.

"Both sides (Taliban and government) are in a state of war. Innocent citizens and soldiers are dying," he said in the statement. "A military operation is not the answer: we should instead put all our passion into the process of talks.

"In such a situation I want to separate myself from this bloody tragedy," he added.

Haq said Sharif sought his help in initiating peace talks and he received positive signals after contacting the Taliban leadership, but "the lack of seriousness on behalf of the government" forced him to quit the process.

(AFP)