Talks with TTP yet to conclude as Parliamentary NSC to discuss progress

An official says some of the banned outfit’s demands including undoing Fata merger are the sticking points

ISLAMABAD:

Talks between Pakistan and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have not yet been concluded as contrary to reports the two sides have yet to find a common ground on key issues.

Last Saturday the Afghan Taliban spokesperson told reporters in Kabul that the talks between Pakistan and the TTP concluded, hoping for a positive outcome of the negotiations.

There was, however, no confirmation of the statement from Pakistan on the reported development.

A senior Pakistan official, who is dealing with the matter, told The Express Tribune that the talks have yet to complete as some of the key issues still needed to be ironed out. The official, who requested anonymity, said some of the TTP demands including undoing the FATA merger were the sticking points.

Nevertheless, the official said Pakistan was still giving peace a chance but offered guarded optimism about the final outcome.

The renewed push for peace deal between Pakistan and the TTP came from the Afghan Taliban government in April when there was spike in cross border terrorist attacks.

Read Afghan Taliban confirm Pakistan-TTP 'indefinite' ceasefire

Pakistan reportedly carried out airstrikes to deter the TTP from carrying out further attacks while at the same time issued a clear warning to the Kabul administration that it would not tolerate further attacks from across the border.

The air strikes coupled with the threatening message compelled the interim Afghan Taliban government to bring the TTP on the negotiating table with Pakistan.

First, a Pakistani security delegation led by Peshawar Corps Commander Lt General Faiz Hameed held face to face talks with the TTP leadership in Kabul and later a tribal jirga comprising politicians and others visited Afghanistan.

The flurry of visits led to the TTP announcing a ceasefire for an indefinite period.

Pakistan as a confidence building measure released some TTP prisoners but the militant outfit has put forward several other demands including restoration of old status of tribal areas, allowing the TTP militants to keep their weapons and monetary compensation.

The official said the undoing of the FATA merger was the main sticking point since it was not possible without constitutional amendment.

Initially it was thought the current government was not on board on talks with the TTP but later the information minister said the government was part of the negotiating team.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a key coalition partner, has expressed reservations over the secrecy surrounding the talks with the TTP. For this purpose it constituted a committee to look into the matter.

PPP Chairman Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari insisted that the issue must be discussed and debated in parliament.

Also read PPP peeved at by-passing parliament in TTP talks

Meanwhile, the federal government has convened an in-camera meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security to discuss the likely deal with the TTP.

It is believed that the army chief and the DG ISI will brief the members of parliament about the progress so far made in the talks and explain the rationale behind initiating dialogue with the outlawed group.

Pakistan hoped that the return of the Afghan Taliban to power would address its security concerns. Instead the number of terrorist attacks has shown an increase. This year alone over 120 Pakistani security officials embraced martyrdom because of the cross border terrorist attacks carried out by the TTP.

Observers believe that the Afghan Taliban are reluctant to act against the TTP since both fought against the US-led foreign forces.

“The Afghan Taliban will have to eventually choose between the TTP and Pakistan,” the official warned. The official said logic demands that the Afghan Taliban would prefer Pakistan over the TTP given its economic and other interests are so intertwined with the neighbouring country.

Sensing the importance of Pakistan, the Taliban spokesperson made it clear that even if talks with the TTP failed, the Kabul administration would not allow the militant group to use the Afghan soil against Pakistan.