Offer of talks 'retracted'.

ISLAMABAD / WASHINGTON -- The PakAistan government has said there would be no talks with militants responsible for the resurgence of terrorism across the country as the United States endorsed Islamabad's inherent right to target terrorists who are a 'shared threat to the region'.

In a press conference in Islamabad, Interior MinisAter Rana Sanaullah distanced himself from remarks he made on Wednesday, where he claimed the offer of talks with militants was still valid if they agreed to lay down arms.

However, during the presser on Thursday, the minister walked back the offer, saying that the National Security Committee (NSC) had decided in its recent meeting that there will be 'no talks with any terrorist or militant group', rather talks should be carried out with the Afghan government to stress the importance of the Doha agreement, wherein the Taliban had vowed to deny space to militant groups.

'If the Doha accord is implemented, then the issue of terrorism in Pakistan and other countries will be solved and Pakistan will be safe,' the minister said, hoping Kabul would honour its promise.

In an allusion to talks initiated by the government with the banned outfit last year, the minister said that the previous policy could not yield positive results. He, however, added that the engagement was based on 'good faith'. He added that parliament had also been briefed on the process.

'Right to self-defence'

Meanwhile, the State Department spokesperson, Ned Price, during a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, supported Pakistan's right to take out militants wreaking havoc across the country.

'Pakistan will take action against the militants, based on the...