Incoming PM has no love lost for TTP

Kakar likely to face tough security challenges as interim prime minister

ISLAMABAD:

The incoming caretaker prime minister is a strong proponent of non-discriminatory approach towards dealing with terrorist groups and also believes that Pakistan must not hold talks with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Although, Anwaarul Haq Kakar will primarily supervise general elections and take economic decisions if necessary, he may have to deal with certain security challenges, including the TTP, as the interim prime minister.

Previously, Kakar as member of the Senate, had been advocating no appeasement policy towards terrorist groups. He had also been against the so-called policy of “good or bad Taliban.”

His speeches on the floor of the Senate spoke about following a non-discriminatory approach. He believed that the policy to seek peace talks with the TTP was flawed and hence must be abandoned.

As the relationship with the Afghan Taliban is on the edge, observers believe that Kakar may spearhead Pakistan’s efforts to tackle the TTP threat.

Pakistan has already abandoned the policy of talks with the TTP. Army Chief Gen Asim Munir in a recent statement had already made it clear that Pakistan would no longer seek talks with the TTP.

He said the recent surge in terrorist attack was an effort by the TTP to resume talks. But, the army chief continued, Pakistan would only speak to the Afghan government.

Efforts to persuade the Afghan Taliban to neutralise the TTP threat have made little headway as Kabul is still adamant about the peace talks. The Afghan interim government rejected Pakistan’s allegations of holding Kabul responsible for the surge in terrorist attacks.

Pakistan’s efforts to obtain a public decree by the Afghan Taliban chief against the TTP couldn’t succeed. One of the Taliban clerics did issue a decree but that was not against the TTP rather against the Afghan nationals seeking “Jihad” outside Afghanistan.

When Afghan Taliban returned to power two years ago, Pakistan hoped that it would benefit the country. There were expectations that the Afghan Taliban would address Pakistan’s concerns particularly the TTP.

However, recent report by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) revealed that return of the Afghan Taliban only emboldened the TTP, which is seeking to regain control of erstwhile tribal areas.