An old photo of Taliban militants in Swat. PHOTO: REUTERS
The statement from General Ashfaq Kayani came a day after two senior military officers were killed by a Taliban bomb in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the military is fighting al-Qaeda and Taliban-led militants.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Sunday announced preconditions for any peace talks, saying troops must be withdrawn from the tribal areas and its prisoners released.
"It is understandable to give peace a chance through a political process but no one should have any misgivings that we would let terrorists coerce us into accepting their terms," Kayani said.
Politicians last week gave their backing to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's calls to begin talks with the Taliban.
But Kayani warned that militants "will not be allowed to take advantage of it (talks offer)".
The army, he said, "has the ability and the will to take the fight to the terrorists".
On Sunday seven security personnel including a major-general and a lieutenant-colonel died in four separate attacks.
Major-General Sana Ullah Khan was general officer commanding in the Swat valley, where the army sent 30,000 troops in 2009 to expel Taliban fighters.
Previous peace deals with the Taliban have quickly broken down and been sharply criticised for allowing the extremists time to regroup before fresh attacks.
Pakistan says more than 40,000 people have been killed in bomb and suicide attacks staged by the Taliban and al-Qaeda-led militants who oppose Islamabad's US alliance.
COMMENTS (30)
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Whom the govt is going to talk peace to ? There are more than 40 groups under TTP umbrella ? that is a first the step, which the govt has not yet spelled out....then comes ceasefire, then no conditions...all these ingredients are amiss...hence, progress is a far cry.....
The problem is not if we should talk or fight. We may have consensus on talks. But please be clear on who are the TTP. They are the enemy of the state. They have butchered innocent Pakistanis in the thousands, blown up schools, killed women and children, and kidnapped everyone from Karachi to Islamabad. Accept the fact that we are negotiating with the worst criminals in the history of this country. And stop calling it negotiations, just say what this is, abject surrender. Start by saying the truth.
"THE ARMY HAS THE WILL AND THE ABILITY TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO TALIBAN." So, what are you waiting for Gen Kiyani? I hope, and pray, that you haven't lost the will, and the ability, to fight like a soldier.
kayani sb show some light on afghan taliban,what is your policy on that issue. TALIBAN must be at KABUL through some deal brokered at #doha ,whose unoffical stand is this??? where is #mullah umar? who was behind murder of barhauddin rabbani and who has a policy of strategic depth,leave apart what are you doing in kashmir.
ET please publish,your moderators are too strict.
it is on Kayani watch that Abbotabad took place ! who is going to trust him !
They SHOULD NOT be dictating terms.............but sadly they ARE DICTATING terms.
I guess negotiations will be about how to terrorists into freedom fighters.
A. Pakistan army says Taliban must not set terms for talks
B. Six Tehreek-e-Taliban prisoners released, for 2 FC personnel
http://tribune.com.pk/story/602992/six-tehreek-e-taliban-prisoners-released-for-2-fc-personnel/
I am getting a little confused here.
Which one is a 'precondition' and which one is 'unconditional' ??
@US CENTCOM: Will you please leave Afghanistan,then talk of mercy for our and your soldiers.Two wrongs are never right.In Iraq and now in Afghanistan you are the oppressors and king of double gamer.But for how long-miss used UNO for false cases.Now active shoot out in washington is new drama in the making ex Al Zawarheri(OF USA) recent statement.
@Khurram Malik: please do get urself updated before u make such stupid and biased comments! There is one Article on ET about Imran Khan (PTI) condemning this TTP attack on Army... Yeah!! u guessed it right!! ON ET..! Go read that article first.
The army, he said, “has the ability and the will to take the fight to the terrorists”. . The real question is whether the militants believe the military has the ability to defeat them - right now I suspect the answer is NO. The military has over a decade of talking tough - don't think harsh language is going to intimidate the terrorist.
Light hearted comments are moderated on this website but when someone is impersonating US CENTCOM the comments are allowed?
It was for the civilian government to decide whether they want to set any pre conditions or not.
political parties simply can't face the brutality of talibans. They just want to spend their tenures safely without caring for citizens suffering. They fully understand that peace deal with TTP is of no use.
@US CENTCOM: What common stance?TTP terrorists are conducting their raids from their sanctuaries in KUNAR.Americans and ISAF forces are keeping a blind eye on all this and in other words they are supporting these terrorists in destabilizing Pakistan.
Enough of this "give-peace-a-chance" drama. TTP is an assorted group of professional butchers! Pak Army should start the offensive today to rid our homeland of those militants, once and for all. The nation stands with Pak Army. Pakistan Zindabad.
First and foremost, we strongly condemn the attack on the military officers. We send our deepest and heartfelt condolences to their families. It is no secret that the nation of Pakistan is faced with many challenges in regards to terrorism. We fully support Pakistan’s effort to restore peace in the country. We share a common stance against terrorism, and the proof lies in the fact that we’ve lost thousands of brave soldiers on both sides of the border. We commend the bravery of those who have given their lives to protect the country. We greatly appreciate all of Pakistan’s sacrifices in the region. We will continue to support the government of Pakistan in its quest for peace.
Ali Khan DET, United States Central Command
This is a welcome singe most needed from top military brass.People of Pakistan are behind armed forces of Pakistan in their fight against enemies.
Geo, Kayani sahab. Take the fight to these barbarians.
This statement is late but better than never. Whole nation is with our brave armed forces.
If you have the ability then please do it and do it right now.
We need a policy that says "We will not talk to terrorists. Give up your arms and we would listen to you".
Talibans have an idealogy to which they are committed and ready to go to any extent. What makes any body think that they have abondoned thier idealogy. Temporary peace may be a strategy for them but not an end by itself. IN fact it was general Kiyani's indecisiveness and lack of a full fledge action which embolden and strengthend them. There should be no talk with them until they are defeated squarely.
TTP must feel the heat for killing innocent people & soldiers. COAS message must have been preceded by a strong action so that the message was loud and clear and in the language that TTP understands.
The army has made tremendous sacrifices in the fight against terrorists. We should not support the TTP or any sort of Taliban. These vultures along with their silent supporters need to wiped off from Pakistan, mosque by mosque
For once the army is thinking straight
Beggars are not choosers !
PTI should be ashamed that in the funerals of two high ranking Army Officials and other soldiers neither Imran Khan , Pervaiz Khattak nor any High ranking PTI Official.were present Atleast High ranking PMLN officials were there in the funerals but I cannot understand that why PTI wants so much Taliban appeasement that now they are avoiding funeral ceremonies of our soldiers as well. A small message to PTI folks that Soldiers who are dying on a Daily Basis are also Pakistanis and kindly give them the respect of what they deserve. Also stop this mantra of Military Withdrawal from KPK regions as you have already seen that what are designs of Taliban.
The only good Taliban is a dead Taliban...very pleased to hear that the army will not allow these barbarians to make demands!