Islamabad:  Defending its decision to engage militant groups in peace parleys, the Pakistan government today said it would not allow its territory to be used for terrorist attacks against any other country.

Outlining the government's comprehensive strategy to address militancy and terrorism, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said "military action alone" could not end terrorism and "history suggests that the use of force alone can lead to self perpetuating violence".

Replying to a question regarding the government's political negotiations with militant groups in the northwestern tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, Qureshi said the government s strategy to address terrorism has three broad elements political, socio-economic and military.

"We believe that military action alone will not be effective in permanently ending the phenomenon of terrorism," he said. "We are reaching out to tribal leaders and notables as part of the political element of our overall strategy in the fight against terrorism.

"Political engagement is possible only with those who renounce militancy and violence; don't allow the use of our territory against any other country; and do not help foreign terrorist elements to find hideouts in our territory."

Qureshi said, "The determination to use force, wherever required, remains an important element of our strategy. We firmly believe that our focused and determined efforts, which have a combination of political, socio-economic and military elements, will lead to a permanent end to militancy."

He underlined that as opposed to the past, the government is negotiating from the position of strength.

Peace in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas "will ensure access to the government to engage in socio-economic development of the area", Qureshi said.

Source : PTI