Zardari rebukes reports about Pak mediating in secret US-Taliban talks

Islamabad, Nov.28 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has rejected reports about Pakistan playing the role of a mediator in talks between the US and the Taliban.

"We are getting this news through the media ... Pakistan is not on board (over this issue)," The Daily Times quoted Zardari, as saying.

Earlier, it was reported that the Central Investigation Agency (CIA) was working to hold secret talks with the Taliban leadership with the help of the Saudi leadership, the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) of Saudi Arabia, the Pakistani leadership and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), however, all such initiatives reportedly failed to yield any desired result due to the massive trust deficit between the two sides and the Taliban's 'obstinacy'.

Zardari also rebuked reports about the presence of Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Omar in Quetta, Balochistan's capital.

He said the US has not provided any information regarding Omar's presence in Quetta or any other Pakistani city.

In an interview to a private television channel, Zardari said the government is pledged to do away with the 17th Amendment and added that any decision in this regard would be taken in consultation with all political parties.

"We wanted to abolish the 17th Amendment from day one, but we wanted to do it through a unanimous decision, as the 1973 constitution was also approved unanimously," Zardari said. (ANI)