A formal office will put pressure on TTP to behave responsibly.
ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan’s suggestion that the TTP should be allowed to establish an office in Pakistan has created an uproar. First, we are in the habit of blaming each and every terrorist activity on the Taliban, which may not be the case. I am not saying that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is not a terrorist group but it is also very likely that our regional and international enemies may be taking advantage of all of this. If we have decided to negotiate with a terrorist outfit like the Taliban, then what is the harm in formalising this arrangement to know exactly with whom we are negotiating?
Second, Imran Khan is not saying at all that he is going to negotiate outside the parameters given in the Constitution. During the stage of negotiations, if any terrorist activity takes place, the Taliban can be asked to explain who is behind it. The Peshawar church attack is an example where the Taliban have denied involvement.
Furthermore, the Taliban already have an informal network which is not on the radar of the government. They have well-wishers in settled areas all over Pakistan and they exploit this support to their benefit. The setting up of a formal office will not enhance their operational capability in any way. In fact, a formal office will only put pressure on them to behave responsibly.
I am not an approver or proponent of the terrorist activities of the Taliban and firmly believe that they are forcefully enforcing their ideology by spreading fear in society. To cut them to size requires that we give them the opportunity to show their cards before coming to the negotiating table.
Imran Khan has made it clear even in the APC that if the negotiations fail, the use of force will then be considered. The use of force must be proactive and track terrorists in every form to their hideouts. We should follow the Sri Lankan model of using full force for once and continue until the surrender of the last terrorist.
Knowing our enemy is possible only through formalising them as an entity. We can negotiate with an entity, not with a vacuum where there is nothing.
Zafar Kaim Khani
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2013.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
