ISLAMABAD:
In the wake of the army’s new doctrine – recognising homegrown militancy as the “biggest threat” to national security – the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has decided to seek guarantees from the military for any peace dialogue with the government.
“Our central Shura (council) has unanimously decided to ask for the army’s guarantee for any talks with the government,” TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told The Express Tribune by phone on Saturday.
He said the Taliban needed assurances from the security forces as the political leadership in Pakistan “has no powers.”
“Although we have not yet received any response to our dialogue offer, our leadership still hopes for a positive response,” Ehsan said.
However, he ruled out any ceasefire with the government. “Our war is based on Islamic ideology as Pakistan was also achieved on the slogan of Islam. We have no option but to fight for Islam. This is our obligation,” he said.
“The Taliban leadership is of the opinion that the army’s doctrine was aimed at us when they say that they face internal threat or threats from western borders and that is why we will look for the army’s assurance,” the TTP spokesman said.
Justice system
Asked about the credibility of the banned group’s justice system, Ehsan said the group had their own system and regularly sought advice from religious scholars.
“If they kill our people, if they kill our prisoners, our teachers and our children then they will face similar fate. We will react and it is a tradition in our society,” he said, adding that the group also punished its own people if found guilty. “Recently, our religious scholars handed down death penalty to a TTP man and he was subsequently executed.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2013.
COMMENTS (4)
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@kanwal:
We are not in the 7th century but in the 21st. Though shall not kill is God's commandment; and not your fairy tale of an eye for an eye. Learn the arabic language to be able to read ad iterpret Quraan yourself and not rely on mama stories. Peace is what the world and most of the people in your region need.
Rex Minor
The Talibans do not negotiate but outlines their demands, call them preconditions or whatever. one has the choice to accept or confrot them. No military in the world is able to fight asymetric war with the Talibans who are the largest estimated over sixty million tribal force in the world. The alternative for Pakistan would be the loss of the entire pashto speaking land.
Good luck!
Rex Minor
Now the exact and accurate time has come to start peace talks and negotiations with Taliban for durable,permanent and long-term peace in Pakistan and army must has to give/provide any possible guarantees in the peace talks and negotiations with Taliban because lots of innocent and sinless people have been killed in the US' war within Pakistan by the Pakistani civil and military leadership and losses of millions of $$$$$ as well and army and civil leadership should never miss this golden opportunity for peace and security in Pakistan.In the other words and indirectly the present government has lost its credibility and trustworthiness and army has been left only the credible and trustworthy department for the continuation of peace process,talks and negotiations with Taliban.....
And our obligation is to make sure thugs and killers dont go free again in this country in the name of strategic assets. So the army must act on removing this cancer now. You dont kill tens of thousands of pakistanis and walk away free. This country was not made for this at all. And Islam asks for Qisas too. An eye for an eye. Thats it.