![the writer has a master s degree in conflict resolution from the monterey institute of international studies in california and blogs at http coffeeshopdiplomat wordpress com the writer has a master s degree in conflict resolution from the monterey institute of international studies in california and blogs at http coffeeshopdiplomat wordpress com](https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/608637-SabinaKhanNew-1380039629/608637-SabinaKhanNew-1380039629.jpg)
The decision by the All Parties Conference (APC) to pursue talks with the TTP has no legal basis without majority support from Pakistan’s parliament. Until consensus from the parliament is achieved, the APC does not reflect the will of the nation. Are all future decisions regarding Pakistan going to be made through APCs now? The unrealistic rhetoric used for the election campaign is holding the PML-N and the PTI hostage to their skewed commitments. Thus, the APC appears to be a desperate face-saving scheme to shift responsibility elsewhere.
In order to achieve peace, both sides have to be genuinely interested in the process. The TTP’s goal of establishing its primitive version of Shariah law is a non-starter and that should be made clear. Vivid memories of beheadings, hangings and flogging of girls are still fresh from President Zardari’s agreement to allow Shariah law in Swat. The military had to eventually be called back in to clear out the area. Meanwhile, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government wants the military to withdraw from the Malakand division and hand over control to the civil administration. While their motives may be pure, is the K-P government capable of preventing the Taliban from taking over or are we risking another Swat?
The willingness of the APC to pursue talks with the TTP has now provided legitimacy to a terrorist organisation. This contributed to the group’s audacity to put forth its demands and conditions for negotiations. The government, elected by the people, should be the one setting pre-conditions for talks and not the other way around. Since the TTP is not interested in putting down its weapons and giving up violence, the whole idea of negotiations is a charade. In fact, this approach will only offer space for the militants to strengthen and regroup while unchallenged.
Peace will never be achieved while the state overlooks violence committed in the name of religion. Moreover, as long as Pakistan allows Muslim nations to continue funding and stoking the flames of sectarian violence within its borders, peace will remain an elusive dream. It is a positive sign that the government is beginning to understand that the majority of the population would appreciate and benefit from a hard-line stance against extremist groups and their oppressive brand of religion. Voters have proved this repeatedly by never electing a religious party such as the Jamaat-e-Islami to rule the country. Now is the time to stop appeasing terrorists and address the issue head on, instead of repeating disingenuous assurances of peace through negotiations. At the very least, refer to their combination of attacks and demands by the right name: pure extortion.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (14)
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If Taliban and Sharia are good enough for Afghanistan, why not Pakistan?
Even Pakistan's founder wanted a Sharia based Constitution. So, TTP are only taking that forward.
Ttp is a terrorist organisation. no government should negoitate with them. just finish them
What I liked was your pointing out : That as long as Pakistan allows Muslim nations to funding and stoking the flames of sectarian violence within its borders, peace will remain an elusive dream. This in my view is one of the most important points to consider because the so called friendly Muslim countries fund and nurture both sides in Pakistan, so that right hand does not want to take notice of what the left hand is doing.
@Noman Burki: I think you people have a very limited understanding of whats going on but love to broadcaste your ignorance with fearless determination. Technically, the Army does what the Government says and as such is in FATA on account of article 245. The Army should not and must not negotiate, only representatives of the Government should do that. You have probably missed the fact where the Army has publically stated that it will support 'any' Government initiative including negotiations, if these lead to peace. On the other hand, people tend to percieve that the APC was held to get the Army on board and the Army has a different view but is now a reluctant partner. This is not true; the Army is not in the equation as a decision maker and will only execute if so ordered. The APC was to arrive at a consensus and the Army was present only to brief the groups to help arrive at that consensus. So I suggest leave the Army out of this for a while dispite your suspicions.
@Nadir: Sound confused as usual. Whats your point????
@Nadir: your comments are right on. Flip and flop with the tide.
The stance on the issue of negotiating with the TTP of both the Govt and the army is different , one is ready for unconditional talks and other is not ready to bow his head , so to whom we should give the authorit y of negotiation , army or the Govt ?
The stance on the matter of negotiating with the TTP of both government and army is different , Govt Says one thing and army says other , To whom we should give the authority of negotiating , army or the Govt ?
Currently, the Army is not prepared to have any conditions for peace talks, but at the same no massive operation conducted since Swat 2009,that you mentioned-speaks volumes with respect to clarity of purpose(while in the meantime we lay the blame on the politicians). At the same time the militants cross 13 check posts(both ways) to rescue more than 200 of their fellow men, and then we question, as to why are they the ones playing with extortion.
You hate the WEST more than you hate TTP.
Negotiating with terrorists is a non-starter. Pakistan tried it so recently, and it failed in such a grand fashion that they should have know better from the start. Thank goodness the PM is coming to his senses.
You flip flop so much. Sometimes you want to celebrate the West's defeat by the Taliban and now you want us to set terms of negotiations.