Pak rejects US claims of Afghan-Taliban presence in Balochistan

Islamabad, Nov. 2 (ANI): Pakistan reportedly told US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that members of any Afghan Taliban Shura were not hiding in Balochistan, against whom the US had demanded a crackdown.

According to The Nation, during her recent visit to Islamabad, Clinton pushed Pakistan for a crackdown but to her sheer disappointment, the demand was rejected for lack of evidence.

Pakistan, however, accepted the US request to help accelerate process of dialogue with the Taliban elements in Afghanistan.

The Obama administration had requested Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to help Washington initiate a dialogue process with the Taliban in Afghanistan as part of its 'talk to the Taliban' strategy.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has sent Director General ISI, Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha to Saudi Arabia as his special emissary to discuss the renewed US proposal.

Sources said that Gen Pasha called on Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz in Riyadh the other day and conveyed the message of resident Asif Ali Zardari. Saudi Intelligence Chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz also attended the meeting. (ANI)