Time for talks

The talks with the Taliban issue is not one that can be taken lightly; all players to be on the same page.

Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, arguably the country’s most powerful Deobandi cleric and undoubtedly a man with close links to the Taliban, has apparently shown possible willingness to take on the task of acting as the facilitator in talks between the incoming PML-N government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He has, however, at the very outset made it clear that this is a delicate matter and that the PML-N should think carefully before engaging in it. Maulana Samiul Haq has also emphasised any talks will be with the TTP and not the Afghan Taliban.



We may soon see that the process of dialogue could prove very relevant to our future. Maulana Samiul Haq has said that the PML-N and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which will form the next government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, must make sure they are in accord with the security establishment, before taking on this task. This, of course, is perfectly sensible advice. Quite regardless of whether it is a good idea or not to talk to the Taliban, it is obvious that any hope of success can come only if the military and civilian government are both in agreement about the future course of action to take. The terms for talks should be discussed and decided upon between them. The matter is all the more significant since the TTP wants political parties to act as guarantors that any accord reached with the military, will be implemented. It is important to note that a few months ago, the Taliban and other militant forces were, of course, labelled the main security threat to the country by the military high command.

Maulana Samiul Haq has also warned that the government must not succumb under US pressure over the issue. He is quite right in stating that a number of complications are involved. The PML-N needs to keep this in mind and chalk out a clear path. The talks issue is not one that can be taken lightly. It is vital that all players are on the same page, and only then can a serious endeavour be made to move towards a process of talks in the hope of resolving the key national issue of militancy.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2013.