Islamabad, October 12
Keeping open the option of military action against militant groups, Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani today said talks with them must be held within the constitutional limits.

Kayani, set to retire next month after leading the army for six years, said the military fully backed the government's move to hold talks with militants.

There is an opinion that the government was forced to go in for talks because of the failure of military operations against militants but this is far from the truth, he said while addressing a passing-out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy in Abbottabad. Though the use of force was the last option, the army was fully prepared to exercise this option if necessary, the 61-year-old army chief said. The army had the capability to mount a befitting response to the militants, he added.

Describing terrorism as a "big challenge" that goes against Islamic teachings, he said: "To deal with it, the national leadership chose the option of giving talks a chance. The Pakistan Army supports this move. — PTI