Forging peace: PML-N, PTI hold off on peace talks with the Taliban

So far, PML-N has not weighed in on which of the two leaders of the rival JUI factions will be asked to arrange talks.

ISLAMABAD:

The PML-N and PTI have, so far, not taken any measures to initiate peace negotiations with the TTP, according to leaders of both political parties.

Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, chairman of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), set aside the notion that the party had approached Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. According to him, it was Maulana Sami himself who took the initiative.

“An offer came from Maulana Sami indicating that he is willing to play the role of the go-between if PML-N decides to enter into dialogue with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),” said Zafarul Haq.

Seemingly, Maulana Sami told PML-N that the TTP members consider him to be a godfather of sorts, as a number of them have studied at his madrassa, Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora, near Nowshera.



“He said he will be happy if PML-N assigns him the task of bringing the Taliban to the negotiation table,” said Zafarul Haq. “However, there is [currently] no progress on the matter as the PML-N has yet to form its government.”

In an interview, Maulana Sami claimed that he was approached by the PML-N last week, but set several preconditions to accepting the role of the go-between. Meanwhile, a senior spokesman of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), Umer Cheema, also said holding peace talks with the Taliban was premature at the moment.

“It is a crucial issue that the PTI will take up after setting up its government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Cheema. “The federal government, security forces, and PTI, are battling extremists in Fata and elsewhere. All stakeholders will have to decide on a unanimous course of action.” According to Cheema, the role of the mediator is up in the air right now. “It may be the wish of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), to play a role in negotiation with the TTP,” he said, when asked whether PTI will assign this responsibility to Rehman. “We will not ask him to arrange such talks with the Taliban.”

A JUI-F Spokesperson, Jan Muhammad Achakzai, confirmed that neither PML-N nor PTI have approached Rehman for this purpose as yet. However, JUI-F has, on its own accord, made an offer to PML-N to help with peace negotiations.

“We have an agreement with the PML-N that all parties will work together to achieve peace in the country,” said Achakzai, adding that the task could not be handled by an individual alone. “Peace can only be restored through the collective effort of all stakeholders. JUI-F has unveiled a road map towards peace, one that will engage the Taliban in dialogue. This proposal should be discussed among all political parties that want peace in the country.”

So far, the PML-N has not weighed in on which of the two leaders of the rival JUI factions will be asked to arrange the talks. According to Zafarul Haq, Maulana Sami and Rehman have influence within different factions of the Taliban.

“Nothing can be said about the issue,” Zafarul Haq concluded firmly. “It is not even on the initial stage yet.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2013.