Major Aamir separates himself from peace talks

Former ISI official reportedly says people involved in negotiations had started to use talks as a 'political stunt.'

ISLAMABAD: Major (retd.) Mohammad Aamir, who has served as a member of the government committee in the peace talks with the Taliban, on  Monday said that he has quit the dialogue process as the Taliban intermediaries “exploit their role for political motives.”

 “They (Taliban intermediaries) want to use the dialogue to push for political objectives and the situation has forced me to distance myself from the fragile process,” Major Amir told The Express Tribune in an interview on Monday.

“The dialogue process will be an exercise in futility with this state of affairs,” the former ISI official said. He said the dialogue needs a serious approach and it could not make progress if the members only focus on the media.

He said he has informed leaders of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) about his decision to part ways with the dialogue process as it is difficult for him to work in a situation when the negotiators ‘play with the media’.

“I have conveyed to the Taliban leaders my disappointment. They were also depressed and insisted they want me to be part of the process,” he said.

He also disputed claim by a Taliban negotiator that the talks are delayed due to the reported tensions between the government and the army and said that the delay was in fact due to Taliban intermediaries and not the government.

“As I have been deeply involved in interaction with the Taliban leaders as a member of the government committee and as personal capacity, I can say that the Taliban leaders are serious about the talks and want the process should go ahead.”

Aamir lamented that he was against media involvement in the talks since the start.

“They (members of the committees) should not appear and talk to the media as it was important for the success of the process,” he said.

Major Aamir had previously suggested abolition of the government committee after the Taliban announced a ceasefire, he had agreed to the government request to use his services in personal capacity.

“When the government wanted to make another committee I had told them that I will not be a member but will cooperate in my personal capacity,” he said, adding that he had continued contacts with the Taliban and travelled to Waziristan with the government committees’ members.