Pakistan says, Taliban insurgents must first lay down their weapons if they are to engage in peace talks with the government.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik today said, his government has received messages from unidentified members of the Islamist insurgent group suggesting they are willing to hold peace negotiations. But he said, the Pakistani government would not engage in talks if the insurgents held a Kalashnikov rifle in one hand.

The Pakistani military has undertaken several recent operations against Islamist militant groups throughout the country’s tribal belt, but has recently expressed optimism that peace talks with the Taliban could succeed.