Come, let's play cricket: Pakistan minister to Taliban

In a lighter vein, Pakistan Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan today invited the Taliban to play a cricket match, saying members of the banned group keenly follow the game.

Khan was talking to reporters in Rawalpindi after he himself hit a few shots during a cricket tournament in the garrison city. He was the chief guest at the event.

The Minister said if a cricket match with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan does take place, the outcome will be positive.

"The inputs suggest that Taliban keenly follow cricket," he said in comments aired live on news channels.

Khan is one of the key ministers who was overseeing the government's efforts to engage the TTP in peace talks. The process was suspended last week after a Taliban faction executed 23 troops taken hostage in 2010.

Khan said Pakistan is a peaceful country but its enemies want to spread terrorism there. He said cricket was a sport that signifies peace, friendship and brotherhood.