Kabul in renewed push for resumption of Pakistan-TTP talks

Afghan delegation meets TTP chief; Pakistan firm on not changing its policy

ISLAMABAD:

There is a renewed push by the Afghan Taliban to restart talks between Pakistani officials and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a delegation of tribal elders reportedly met the TTP chief.

Though there was no official confirmation from either side, sources claim that the tribal delegation recently met TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud. The meeting was part of efforts to explore possibility of resumption talks that were called off in November last year.

A senior Pakistani official, however, said there was no change in the government policy. “We are no longer seeking talks with the TTP,” the official added, while requesting anonymity.

However, the official said Pakistan had laid down a clear condition: TTP will have to surrender first for any dialogue. Another official who deals with Afghanistan expresses complete ignorance to the reported meeting between Pakistan and the TTP.

Despite Pakistan’s refusal to peace talks, the Afghan Taliban continue to push for the rapprochement. Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his visit to Islamabad in May advocated the dialogue with the TTP despite being told that Islamabad was not interested in talks.

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Officials here said that given the previous rounds of talks, Pakistan would not speak directly to the TTP. If there were any talks in the future, those would be conducted through the Afghan Taliban.

The TTP issue has emerged a major stumbling block between Pakistan and the interim Afghan government. Pakistan was disappointed with the Afghan Taliban for not taking care of its security interests by sheltering the TTP. There is a feeling in Islamabad that the Afghan Taliban would never use force against the TTP as they are “ideological cousins.”

The two sides are trying to find a middle ground or a workable solution to address the TTP issue. One proposal emerged in recent months was to relocate TTP fighters from Pakistan borders to the northern parts of Afghanistan.

However, the Afghan Taliban want Pakistan to bear the cost. And despite the Afghan Taliban’s refusal to go after TTP, Pakistan has no intention to abandon its Afghan policy, according to sources.

Pakistan continues to urge the international community to stay engaged with Afghanistan. At a recent huddle in Norway, Pakistan pressed for continued engagement with the Afghan government despite conceding that the Afghan Taliban failed to honour commitments with the international community.

Pakistani officials felt that the Afghan Taliban had missed a great opportunity to be recognised by the international community in March last year as the world expected Kabul to lift ban on girls education.