According to sources Kayani briefed the premier on the current situation and suggested he tread a careful path while pursuing peace talks. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The government will exhaust all options to give peace a chance before taking any decision to use force against the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), according to officials.
The decision was taken by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a meeting with army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam on Friday.
The high-level huddle took place against the backdrop of fading hopes of peace talks with the TTP after the group claimed responsibility for the killing of senior army officers, including a major general and lieutenant colonel, last Sunday.
Officially, nothing was said about the meeting, sources told The Express Tribune that the prime minister discussed the prospects of the peace process with the army and ISI chiefs. Kayani briefed the premier on the current situation and suggested he tread a careful path while pursuing peace talks, they said.
Following the killing of senior army officers, Kayani had cautioned that terrorists would not be allowed to take advantage of the government’s peace overtures and said the military had ‘the ability and the will’ to take the fight to militants. He said the army would not let terrorists coerce the country into accepting their terms.
While the government had condemned the attacks, it avoided making any direct reference to their impact on possible peace talks. Sources said that PM Nawaz wanted to implement the decision of the APC on pursuing talks with the TTP.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2013.
COMMENTS (8)
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But other option is left other than ceding control of Islamabad to them?They have ridiculed every peace gesture tried so far.They put up unreasonable demands to thwart the peace negotiations at the start.They continue their killing spree,and announce unequivocally that they are fighting with Pakistan Army ,thereby Pakistan.What else can be ceded to them?
In other words, the Govt Will do the right thing only if it doesn't have any options left...
Do it if it makes sense to you... Just let us know after loosing how many more lives, will you launch a final crackdown??
At the cost of how many more lives? 50,000 Pakistani civilians and soldiers have been murdered by TTP and affiliates, the economy has lost $65 billion, and this government wants to appease the terrorists! It seems the TTP elected this government, and not the suffering citizens of Pakistan.
TTP knows that if they don't agree to the terms state of Pakistan, they'd end up like those who tried to occupy Swat. TTP is fighting for power, not for some "Shariah".
At this time, the army is not prepared to meet any conditions of the rebels, and at the same time has not taken any offensive against them in last 4 years-shows real clarity of vision/purpose!!. While the opponents cross 13 check posts(both ways) to rescue more than 200 of their fellow militants, without anyone even batting an eyelash!!
Aren't we already exhausted? Our political leadership has a lot of tolerance for the terrorists and terrorism :-(
ISI and Army await for a ridiculous major crack down on TTP If all options fail we will have something similar to Lal Masjid but the depth and scale of the operation would be wide, dynamic and ruthless... Karachi embrace once again Operation Blue Fox for TTP !.. count down begins....