Taliban's demand unrealistic: Gilani

Lahore, Apr 22: Giving enough hints that his government would not bow to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan's demand of release of five-six militants in exchange of Pakistan's ambassador in Afghanistan, Tariq Azizuddin, who has been held hostage by the Pakistani wing of the Taliban for almost two months, Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that his government will neither be "blackmailed" by militants nor will it listen to their "unrealistic" demands.

"We won't listen to their demands that are totally unrealistic. If they want us to hand over jailed terrorists as a precondition for talks, that will not happen," the Daily Times quoted Gilani as saying in an interview with Newsweek. Gillani said there would be no talks with militants "until our preconditions are met". "They should put down their arms first. Not only Baitullah Mehsud but also other armed tribes who are not militants," he added.

He also ruled out any unilateral US military strikes into Pakistan, saying that the United States have to have prior permission.

ANI