File photo of Maulana Samiul Haq. PHOTO: INP
The godfather of the Taliban, Maulana Samiul Haq, says that the incoming political administration and the powerful security establishment have to be on the same page for the success of any peace overture towards the insurgents.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have requested Maulana Samiul Haq to facilitate peace talks with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the ultraorthodox group which has claimed credit for most deadly violence in the country.
Maulana Samiul Haq is the chancellor of Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary, which is the alma mater of several Taliban commanders. He also heads his eponymous faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S).
Before accepting the role of go-between, I’d need an assurance that the future prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, and Pakistan Army are on the same page on the issue,” Maulana Samiul Haq told The Express Tribune in an exclusive interview.
“The government will have to show a strong commitment to the proposed peace process,” he added. “Currently, it’s a wish of the government – but this festering issue demands commitment and seriousness.”
Nawaz Sharif has said that he believes ‘dialogue is the best option’ for restoring peace in the country which has been ravaged by Taliban violence since 2002. The TTP welcomed Nawaz’s statement and even offered a truce to the government-in-waiting.
“It is essential that the civilian and military leaderships take a unanimous decision on the issue of peace talks with the Taliban,” Maulana Samiul Haq said. “Meaningful talks cannot be pursued if the two stakeholders have divergent or conflicting approaches to the issue.”
The Taliban have blamed the government for giving in to international pressure and reneging its commitments and thus leading to the collapse of past peace agreements. But the government blamed the Taliban for violating truces.
“I would need an assurance from Islamabad that it would not surrender to international pressure,” the JUI-S chief said, expressing apprehensions that foreign forces, the United States in particular, could oppose such an initiative. “If Pakistan backed out under US pressure, it would spell disaster,” he warned.
Although Maulana Samiul Haq believes that talks are the only option to end the bloodshed in Pakistan, he says that the issue needs careful handling. “It’s a delicate matter. I’ve conveyed it to Mian Sahib that he should think twice before entering into peace talks with the Taliban.”
Asked if he would seek help from Mullah Omar, to bring the TTP to the negotiating table, Maulana Samiul Haq said: “The Afghan Taliban and TTP are two separate issues.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2013.
COMMENTS (27)
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@ahmer:
A very good suggestion, but who is going to bell the CAT?
Rex Minor
@saad:
There is no guarantee for those who appease! The appeasement is to avoid further bloodshed an prevent surrender if possible.
Rex Minor
@Ahsan Baloch:
Then call them martyrs and care about those who are still living.
Rex Mnor.
The TTP welcomed Nawaz’s statement and even offered a truce to the government-in-waiting. Does the suicide attack on a Seminary in Peshawar and attack on the convoy of DPO Kohat the other day is a bold indication of TTP truce offer?
Let's first have a dialogue with the 22,000+ mothers who have lost their sons in this war at the hands of these rascals. If we talk, their blood is gone in vain....
We have a fair idea what kind of country Maulana Samiul Haq wants Pakistan to be. We have a fair idea the kind of country Taliban wants Pakistan to be. No idea what kind of country the Government negotiators want Pakistan to be. Does the Constitution give anyone the power to barter away the freedom and liberty of citizens, whatever may be the reason, justification or cause.
@k Salim Jahangir
"But, there is no page left..."
Or, may be, the pages are all left blank!
Thankyou maulana Sami,you have cleared a very big taught that Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan are separate entity and their no link between the two.USA has always called them one-some double gaming in
He should have a meeting with Gen Kiayani himself to ensure the army is on the same page. Best of luck to maulana.
It is essential that the civilian and military leaderships take a unanimous decision on the issue of peace talks with the Taliban, . It's a polite acknowledgement that the Civilian govt has no control over the military who is the ultimate force that decides whether to make war or peace with the Taliban, India or whomever.
@Aviator: "“Maulana Samiul Haq is the chancellor of Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary, which is the alma mater of several Taliban commanders.” If this seminary is responsible for churning out people who are full of hate, why doesn’t the government close this place down? This would close the source of the TTP and other preachers who spread hate." . In England there is some confusion about this. They are sure that Taliban commanders are locally produced i.e. at the seminary in Birmingham. And Imran Khan is the chancellor of the institute. They could of course be wrong.
Army and Nawaz Sharif are already on collision course.
@Aviator: Its not that easy young boy. They are not producing people with hatred, they are the reaction of what the nonsense liberals have done to the Hudood Ordinance and are now after Blasphemy law. Actually they are the people who can bring peace with Taliban.
@MM: "The TTP declared war on democracy! How can you negotiate with that? Talks won’t deliver a durable peace…." . I think democracy is the most entertaining tamasha. the Athenians ended up inventing. Some years back a million(according to the organisers) people protested in the streets of England against the impending attack on Iraq. . Being a Westminster Politician, still Tony Blair took the country to war. Democracy is the most ill-used, not just by the Asians.
"Maulana Samiul Haq is the chancellor of Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary, which is the alma mater of several Taliban commanders."
If this seminary is responsible for churning out people who are full of hate, why doesn't the government close this place down? This would close the source of the TTP and other preachers who spread hate.
The TTP declared war on democracy! How can you negotiate with that? Talks won't deliver a durable peace....
What page are we talking about here?
If these people can influence taliban then why they had not tried that in past. Why they waited for any government to start talks? If they are leaders and real ulemas then why not they took initiative on their own? They want Pakistan govt. and nation to surrender in front of taliban monsters. They are part of problem not problem resolvers.
Creating safe heavens.
A dialogue with terrorists...A dialogue with killers of thousands of Pakistans....A dialogue with stone-age minds....Alas, we are ruined!
A dialogue with terrorists...A dialogue with killers of tohusands of Pakistans....A dialogue with stone age minds....Alas, we are ruined!
The taliban should be wiped out along with their supporters and God fathers/mentors..There should be no 2 ways about this. Anyone who says the military option does not work better look at how the Tamil Tigers were wiped out.
and what is the guarantee that 'other' extremists and afghan taliban wouldn't create havoc? n can we know what good talibans are capable of doing? so, nawaz (and shahbaz) being the guarantors for taliban is that why punjab has been spared from attacks? dicey situation(s) ahead!! for once can we have a family tree like chart about the militants/extremists. so we know who is who? thanks.
But,there is no page left.....all pages have been taken away by the last successors to Mr.ZAB.How unfortunate!!
the 50,000 innocent dead were at mistake...
"Before accepting the role of go-between, I’d need an assurance that the future prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, and Pakistan Army are on the same page on the issue,” Maulana Samiul Haq told The Express Tribune in an exclusive interview." . The only problem in this proposition is, that it is a tad doubtful whether all those involved here know, what a "page" is?