Into the abyss

Virtually all major parties are willing to talk to a force, which openly says it does not believe in the Constitution.

The forces pushing harder and harder for talks with the Taliban are gaining a stronger foothold on our soil. Most recently, a resolution in favour of these talks was passed by the All-Parties Conference called by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) in Islamabad. A mechanism for the talks was also worked out, which are to take place via a ‘grand jirga’ set up by the JUI-F some time ago. Rather ominously, the resolution seeking the talks, does not mention the word ‘terrorist’, apparently because the JUI-F believe this may upset the Taliban. The degree of concern shown for their feelings is intriguing. The PPP had apparently objected to the omission of the word.



But these factors aside, we have a situation where virtually all the major parties in the country are willing to talk to a force, which has openly said it does not believe in Pakistan’s Constitution, which has murdered thousands of people, displayed unparalleled brutality and which seeks to impose its version of Shariah law across the country. One can only wonder what these parties are thinking of. The JUI-F APC was attended, among others, by Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of the country’s nuclear programme and chief of his newly-formed Tehrik Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan, and heads of various parties including Mian Nawaz Sharif of the PML-N, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain of the PML-Q, Munawwar Hassan of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Aftab Sherpao of the Qaumi Watan Party, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad of the Awami Muslim League and Mehmood Khan Achakzai of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party. The MQM was represented by Dr Farooq Sattar, Tahir Mashhadi and Waseem Akhtar. The PPP delegation was led by Makhdoom Amin Fahim.

One would think that among these persons, greater wisdom would prevail. This, sadly enough, appears not to be the case. We also do not know what the peg for negotiations is to be; in the give and take of talks, what is to be conceded to the Taliban. These are all factors that must be considered very carefully. We need to hear from our key leaders, as elections approach, how they see these and what offers they think can be made to the Taliban.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2013.