File photo of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani on Saturday said the army supports the government's policy of dialogue with the Taliban to end the insurgency wracking the country.
The main political parties last month backed a government proposal to seek negotiations with the militants, who have been waging a bloody insurgency against the state since 2007.
But the umbrella Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction, a loose coalition of militant groups led by Hakimullah Mehsud since 2009, responded with a list of preconditions.
These included a government ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops from the tribal areas along the Afghan border where the militants have hideouts.
"The national leadership has decided to give dialogue a chance to deal with the issue of terrorism and Pakistan army fully supports this process," Kayani said while addressing a passing out parade of cadets in Abbottabad.
"The nation and the political leadership have to determine the parameters for holding such a dialogue... this process should bring unity among the nation instead of leading to a division," he said.
During the televised address at the Pakistan Military Academy, the general said it was essential to find a solution to terrorism which he described as negating the basic ideology of the nation and the teachings of Islam.
"The military will be more than happy if a solution to the problem is found through dialogue," he said, adding that the use of force would be the last option.
Kayani, who is retiring from his post next month at the end of a second tenure as army chief, dismissed speculations that the failure of counter-insurgency operations forced the military to go for dialogue.
"This is far from being a truth," he said, pointing to the successful 2009 military operations in the northwestern town of Swat, which was cleansed of terrorists within four months.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said his government was sincere about holding peace talks with the Taliban, after rebel chief Mehsud complained that no serious steps had been taken to open a dialogue.
Speaking after a security meeting in Peshawar, Sharif said progress was being made on the issue of opening negotiations.
His statement came a day after the broadcast of a BBC interview in which Mehsud said he was ready to sit down for talks but the government had "not taken any serious steps".
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During his address at Pakistan Military Academy Abbottabad, General Kayani has also explicitly said that "no individual person or individual group has complete grasp or solution to the Taliban problem"..... This is a clear response to Mr Know-All, Allama Doctor Imran Khan Niazi and his online trolls.
Congratulations? War with taliban has come to an end! The winner is, yes you guessed it right, the mighty TTP!! Pakistan to negotiate terms of surrender.
Fools in paradise!!
During election many politician on pakistani TV claimed that Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan have support from Army and few extrmist groups. It seems like they are right.
Nawaz Sharif is not working on his agenda I think he is working on Army's agenda even before elctions held in Pakistan. It is Army who gave a democratic face to their agenda which is somehow or other unite all the extremist groups and pursue their strategic agenda through them in Afghanistan and Kashmir.
They successfuly made it look like it was Nawaz sharif's idea, which they just chose to support however, in my opinion it is actually Army's idea and what Nawaz sharif was doing so far was an opening act so that it would look like a democratically ellected people's representative's decision.
@saad: You need to read what your own air marshal Nur Khan has written in Dawn (google it) about 1965 war. Pakistan did NOT defend itself. It was the one that started the war. When India retaliated they had to run to Tashkent for a ceasefire.
Now let us talk about 1948. Jinnah used to say it is not Pakistani army but local Kashmiris who were attacking the Maharaja. So assuming he was speaking the truth, Paksitan army has no credit or debit on that score. But assuming that it was the Pakisstan army, India was not involved until Raja Hari Singh signed the accession document. The Pakistan army was almost in Srin Nagar at that time. Once Indian army got involved it pushed back the Pakistani army. Had Nehru not gone to the UN to complain about Pakistan's attack and let Sardar Patel complete the job, Pakistani army would not have kept even the part it currently has. So your notion that it was successful in fighting the Indian army in 1948 is simply not true. They start wars but once retaliation starts they run away. That is also what happened in Kargill except that Kargill was one step worse than 1965 for Pakistan. Vajpayee refused ongo to he negotiation table and Pakistan had to declare unilateral ceasefire.
OK lets give everyone the benefit of doubt - lets have a dialogue with The Taliban and what if they continue to attack?
@Ch.Allah Daad
Nice try some random member of the PTI "media wing". I wonder who came up with the theory taht you just posted...
@Ch. Allah Daad: If that is the case, why mince your words. Say it directly that even you cannot win a war with Taliban even being a nuclear powered country.
@ModiFied:
Having a logo is one thing. Doing that is quite another. How is the bottom of the ganga river these days with ashes of hindu soldiers?
@ModiFied:
We are going to heaven but you hindus are washing away in the ganga river as ash while trying to achieve that.
this the reason why no operation is being taken by LEA"s against the talibans in karachi...
Most of us are forgeting the consequences of this war. For time being let's ignore our past mistakes and focus on future. Suppose, Pakistan State starts war against Taliban, then it must end with Pakistan's victory and elimination of Taliban, Sensing their defeat, Taliban will go all out and will find support from Maddrassas and Religious parties. In other words, blood of millions will be spilt. How Pakistan emerges from this chaos is difficult to determine. Half hearted war with unclear end will give victory to Taliban. They will come out from their hideouts to take over whole Pakistan, like they did in Afghanistan. This is the reason all political and military forces are avoiding this war. Everyone wants status quo, including Kayani, Nawaz Sharif and Imran.
A reminder to Nawaz Sharif that althogh elected by the people he is cohibiting, i.e., power sharing with the military. let us not forget that after a prolonged military rule in the ountry, the only long term solution for the civilian Government in Pakistan is to Nationalise its miltary, making it a conscript national army! The alternative would be to follow the course of the current Turkish Government who sent Kemalists Generals into retirement or to Turkish prison!
Rex Minor
Kayani supports dialogue with Taliban'" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Do the views of someone retiring next month matter at all?
@saad: "the wars of 1948 and 1965 which were won by the pakistan army " +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sir you should also include the wars of 1971 and 1999 since their outcome was exactly the same as those of 1948 & 1965 :) !
There was a time when Kayani wanted to train Afghan army. Now Kayani is probably counting on the Afghan army to save him, his army and Pakistan from the talibans. Don't worry Army Chief Kayani, Afghan army is almost trained and they shall protect you, your army and Pakistan from the talibans. It could be speeded up if you send your forces for training by the Afghan army.
Keyani's statement is nothing but a diplomatic surrender to the Talibans. This guy can't deliver a single sentence without reading the written speech.
The democratic govt will do nothing and the terrorists will continue to kill.
Ever heard Indian army chief supporting talks with any terrorist group? Indian army's logo for Islamic jihadists is " We will dispatch you to heaven so that you can have virgins and wine".
@saad: "hahahh coward army must be in your dreams right you dream a lot stop dreaming and secondly forgot the wars of 1948 and 1965 which were won by the pakistan army and not said by me but why the foreign media."
Are you for real?
On the topic, PA is fighting a losing war & Kayani knows it. They are just trying to save their skin by "supporting" the peace dialogue process with the Talibanis. If Talibanis start attacking Punjab in large numbers, these 'brave' Pak Army Generals will be the first to run away to their homes in US/UK. Even Nawaz Sharif will do the same - he'll run away to Saudi Arabia and will "instruct" his party people to keep fighting this "war against Pakistan".
Talibans recently posted a video showing how they shall behead Kayani with a small, blunt knife. Kayani knows that he shall be retiring soon and his security will be reduced. He does not want to lose his head. Brave General. TTP has wished Kayani "Happy and Peaceful EID".
Pakistani army surrenders would be a more appropriate headline for this news.
People who want war would be singing a different tune if the war was to be fought where they lived. Have you people ever heard of empathy? Try to show a little to the tribal areas, they are humans too. Sick minded selfish hypocrites.
As retirement looms closer, there will be less security for Kiyani and hence the change in position to get into the good (or better) books of TTP
ET- My analysis posted a few days back along with a number of posts in the past is proving to be true that your military and ISI are supporting TTP and other sister outfits and fanning them to all parts of Pakistan to carry out bomb blasts. Bomb blasts carried out two days back with perfect synchronization in all provinces of Pakistan simultaneously was a testimony to my apprehensions which is now proving to be true. Such perfect timings achieved throughout the length and breadth of the country is beyond the known capability of this rag tag outfit. ISI covertly provides a safe passage to TTP cadres along with explosives to spread out without being detected and then give them technical and tactical support to carry out these maneuvers which is only known to specialised military personnel. TTP lately has increased the frequencies of lethal attacks and have been emboldened by ISI to make such demands which cannot be fulfilled by the state. The people of Pakistan including the civilian govt who on a drop of a hat smells conspiracy theories are clueless or knowingly keeping their ears and closed as it is difficult to bell the cat. The General who is being praised for not disturbing the democratic set up for five years wants to continue after his retirement in an important portfolio which can be used later for a bigger agenda to rule the country duly supported by a foreign power which can only happen if there is total anarchy in whole of Pakistan for which the military and the ISI are working full time by providing full support to TTP and others.
Kayani had the options of surrender or surrender. Thank god he chose to surrender! Win-Win
This is the actual face of pak army. they gets fear of TTP. don't have guts to fight against TTP.
Now bash army on this too
Sure, have dialogues with the terrorists. I guess what they are doing is not unfortunate, unfounded or provocative enough.
Wrecking not "wracking" to start with. Pakistan created this insurgency, they trained them, gave them arms and ammunition, and now they say they cannot fight them, what kind of an army is this???. This insurgency was created first to liberate Kashmir in 1948, it did not work, since then Pakistan has been at it off and on. Since 14th August 1947 the Pakistan Army has taken the lives of more Pakistani's than any other country, a very sad but true commentry. Thousands of innocent men women and children have lost their lives in East Pakistan. Bangladesh will never forget and never forgive Pakistan for the atrocities perpetuated against them. Pakistan's ridiculous policy of "Strategic depth" of sending its proxies to do what they though was best for Pakistan has again had backfired many times over. What about Kargil, how many innocent people lost their lives there, The list is endless. Asghar Khan is right, we never learn from history., because we live in self denial, the truth is too difficult to bear. Bangldesh is still reeling with the sufferings of 1971 and people involved are being tried, this is a direct pointer to Pakistan, telling Pakistan we have not forgotten, and we will not forgive those who were involved. What is most important is to realize that instead of spending time and resources, on hating India, hating Hindus, we have to appreciate them. Instead of talking to murderers, bombers, kidnappers, we should have talked to the Indians a long time back. Pakistan does not compare with India in any manner whatsoever. We think, and we want others to think that because we have the bomb, we are some how equals!!!. But we are not. That is the simple fact. Bangladesh has accepted this simple statusquo fact, Pakistan does not wish to. So we keep harping about Kashmir as though we have any morals to lecture others. We have lost 40,000 to 50.000 innocent people, many thousands have been left without supporting members, Pakistan is in a dismal state, self destruct mode, others have gone ahead, and we have gone back.
what is the last resort? 50k+ are dead and more are being slaughter and blown apart every day.....remember the Sri Lanka's Tamil tigers, it took them 30 years to put down the killers when finally someone with balls decided to kill the top leaders. their sanctuaries and sympathizers...this is the only way Pakistan can win the war....not with appeasements....Good luck general.
Coward Pakistan army is a army which not won a single War.
This the same place where Malala was shot - same place where IK drone march was prevented from entering because of Taliban threats? So much for "cleansed of terrorist".
The General statement is an open invitation for TTP to carry on with their violent activities regardless.
We should all be ashamed that one of our institutions has allowed a man with such a fickle personality to rise to the top. I am sure there were many other generals more competent than him; however, not all of them were friends with tapi of course
@Aysha M: Yes, indeed, it appears disappointing to witness this disgrace. However, I'm a suspicious man and suspect some thing else here. I see these stupid politicos like Mian this and Khan that dilly dallying and letting these 'Soldiers of Allah' make 'better Muslims' out of us until we decide to unite and say NO. Then the real thing starts and we won't have any more these barbarians challenging and threatening us and we also won't have to deal with these idiots anymore either, I mean the fools who go for politicians here. And it'd be just fine.
Yeah no other option because taliban are well trained gladiators
Surrendered already? To terrorists this time! Shame!
kyani knows the power of taliban he doesnt want to be 5th because 4th was general sana niazi
Govt is agreed ,Bureaucrats are agreed and now military establishment has agreed too.So what are we waiting for now.Just go ahead with serious efforts and please save Pakistan from collapsing. May be this dialogue process is the only way to get Pakistan out of this quagmire called 'War On Terror'.
Kayani abandoned his former COAS. He is now abandoning the ordinary people of Pakistan. He will retire in style and be protected by the shariff bros as they are in league with the talibs and the talibs will not touch them or those on whom their benevolence is granted. What a tamasha.
@M.Emad, The way you leave comments,show that you are begging for attention...'signs of inferiority complex'.
Haters are gonna hate and there dream will never come true. APC's decision to hold talks with Tablian is fully supported by Pak Army.
We are very comfortably ensconed. Why fight. This kind of message will further embolden the terrorists. All those left living in Pakistan please start observing the requisites of the taliban and terrorists groups. You have been abandoned.
yeah he knows that Talibanhas killed 4 general since 2007 so he dont want to be 5th
Begging for peace,General? So proud of you
It simply means another 16 December 'Instrument of Surrender' signed by Gen Kayani.
By the way, Niazi and Kayani are neighbour clans.
Left hand of the government supports talks with the right hand of the government.
"the army supports the government’s policy of dialogue with the Taliban to end the insurgency wracking the country." this will allow the army to focus on what they do best "Real Estate".