NOWSHERA: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami head and Difa-e-Pakistan CouncilChairman Maulana Samiul Haq on Wednesday welcomed the United States offerof direct talks with the Afghan Taliban.

In a statement issued from Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak town ofthe Nowshera district, the JUI-S chief said the announcement by GeneralJohn Nicholson who is commanding the US forces in Afghanistan that he wasready for direct talks with Taliban was a welcome move.

“The United States should not to take back the offer of direct talks withTaliban as the regional peace is linked to the latter who are the biggestmilitary and political power,” he said in the statement pointing out that,according to the general, US President Donald Trump also wished the talks.

The Afghan Taliban, on the other hand, have termed the talks offer animportant development. They wished the US should give a proper formal shapeto the offer. The Maulana said it was the first time that the US had takena practical step in the form of the very offer which was based on facts.