Taliban-brokered talks between TTP, govt enter final stage

A fifty-member jirga to visit Kabul today to hammer out conditions of the deal

KABUL/ PESHAWAR:

With Pakistani authorities and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) returning to the negotiating table and announcing an indefinite ceasefire, both sides seem to be inching toward a solution to the decades-old conflict in peace talks brokered by Afghan authorities.

The two sides have entered the second and "penultimate" round of talks mediated by Haqqani network chief Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is pushing both sides to adhere to the truce – an underlying glue of the talks – in spite of differences, sources in the Jirga revealed.

A fifty-member tribal jirga comprising leaders from the merged districts and religious scholars from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa would fly to Kabul for a two-day visit today, the sources revealed.

They said that TTP would formally announce the indefinite ceasefire following the meeting and a formal notification is likely to be issued today or tomorrow in Kabul.

The delegation is meeting to deliberate on the TTP’s demand to roll back the Fata reforms – a major sticking point in the talks – which were enabled by the 25th Constitutional Amendment.

It may be recalled here that in 2020, the apex court admitted a petition filed against the 25th Constitutional Amendment and issued notices to the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governments as well as the lawmakers from the former Fata. The case is still pending.

Peace talks

The current talks between the two sides have been going on in Kabul since the start of this month and resulted in the extension of the ceasefire between the forces and the Taliban on two occasions.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is labouring to make the talks successful “at any costs”, sources familiar with the developments said.

The indefinite ceasefire comes weeks after the group said it was extending a ceasefire with the government until May 30, after the two sides held an initial round of talks. Just before it was to be expired, the ceasefire was extended on Monday to an indefinite period until a solution is hammered out.

Read TTP extends ceasefire till May 30 after 'successful' talks

However, TTP spokesman said that the decision about the extension of ceasefire with the Pakistani military has not been made yet and that the talks were still on going.

The final decision would be made on Wednesday (today) or Thursday

Meanwhile, sub-committees have been formed to assess the damages in the merged districts during the conflict in tandem with another committee formed by the group to monitor the development of talks between the two sides.

A three-member committee, with representatives from each side to iron out the differences, has also been formed.

In the peace talks, the TTP is represented by Mufti Ghofran, Commander Zarar and Omar Khalid Khorasani while the Pakistani delegation comprises senior military and intelligence officials. A second committee has also been formed by the Pakistani authorities.

‘A bumpy start’

The "penultimate" round of the talks follows marathon peace talks that kicked off with a rather uncertain outcome and cautious calibrations.

In the preliminary stages, the TTP sources claimed, the talks had a bumpy start with Pakistani authorities reluctant to show leniency on the demands presented by the group.

However, IEA’s Acting Minister for Interior Sirajuddin Haqqani helped bring the talks back on track, sources added.

The TTP has demanded the release of prisoners and a presidential pardon for two key militant commanders, including TTP Swat spokesman Muslim Khan, and compensation for the damages in the war against TTP in merged districts.

The group has also pressed for the removal of their names from the blacklists and an assurance from the government of Pakistan that its members would be allowed to move freely across the country without any legal consequences.

Furthermore, it also sought to re-enact the agreement between Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah with tribal elders that guaranteed their autonomous status. Besides, it also demanded of the Pakistani authorities to enable the implementation of the Shariah Nizam-i-Adl in the Malakand Division.

‘TTP must accept Pakistani constitution’

As for its part, the Pakistani authorities asserted that the militant group, under the prospective deal, accept the constitution of Pakistan and shun all ties with other armed groups.

The sources added that the government also wants the group to dismantle its armed groups.

According to the sources, the two sides have thus far agreed and progressed past a number of sticking points including the withdrawal of 60 per cent of forces from the erstwhile Fata and staffing all checkpoints of Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel, while all security forces must remain confined to the garrison areas in the merged districts.

Moreover, it was agreed that the current status of garrison areas must change in the merged districts as FC would play its due role as they did in past. In addition, a new cantonment area must be constructed for armed forces as FC would take their old buildings.

An arbitration committee of Pakistan security forces, TTP and TTA would be formed to record the details of the implementation of the talks on the ground.

The arbitration committee would take the disputed issues and in case of its failure to sort out the issues, a guidance committee would be consulted for resolution.

The two sides decided that under the agreed framework, a period of three months would be allotted to each side to implement the conditions and as a confidence-building measure, TTP members would be allowed to return to their respective areas to test the ground situation.

If the conditions are being met, a permanent ceasefire would be inked between the two sides.