Pursuing reconciliation: Govt won’t abandon dialogue option with TTP

Taliban are split into several groups and most would be responsive says Sartaj Aziz.

ISLAMABAD:

The government will press ahead with its plans to engage militants in peace negotiations, despite the wave of terrorist attacks in Peshawar, the National Security and Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz said.

“Despite these incidents, the dialogue option should be pursued because the Taliban are divided in several groups and many of them have said they do want to pursue dialogue,” Aziz said at a joint news conference with British Senior Foreign Office Minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi.

His statement came after a series of devastating attacks over the past week during which left more than 150 people dead in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and threatened government efforts to seek peace with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

Following the attack on a historic church in Peshawar, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif voiced fear that incidents like that would cast a shadow over the proposed dialogue. However, Sartaj Aziz’s remarks suggest that the government is still willing to give peace a chance.

“Let us not prejudge the outcome of the talks,” he said, arguing that the all parties conference (APC) had unanimously decided to prioritise peace talks to bring peace to the country.



When asked to elaborate on a recent statement by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that some foreign elements might be involved in sabotaging the peace efforts, the national security and foreign affairs advisor replied: “There are certain elements which are out to weaken Pakistan. There could be elements involved from across the border.” However, he did not name any country.

Answering a question about the latest TTP demand that it would not announce any ceasefire until the US halts drone strikes in the tribal areas, Aziz stressed that the government was using all available means to persuade Washington to put an end to the drone programme in the tribal region.

Speaking to reporters, Baroness Warsi was careful in making a categorical statement about Pakistan government’s efforts to pursue peace talks.

“It is a matter of Pakistan whom they want to engage with. Any dialogue process that will lead to peace would be welcome,” Warsi said. However, she refused to be dragged into the controversy over drone attacks in the tribal areas.

Sartaj Aziz also said Prime Minister Sharif had raised the issue of Indian involvement in the insurgency-hit Balochistan province, adding that although India denied its involvement, Islamabad would back its claims with evidence in due course of time at an appropriate forum.

Answering another question, Baroness Warsi said the issue of Kashmir was a matter that needed to be resolved by both Pakistan and India bilaterally. However, she added that any solution for the longstanding dispute should be done considering the wishes of the Kashmir people.

Earlier, in her opening remarks, Baroness Warsi said the purpose of her recent visit was to promote trade and economic ties between Pakistan and Britain.

She said the two countries had agreed to increase their bilateral trade to 3 billion pounds sterling by 2015.

The UK minister was accompanied by a delegation of British businesses across the energy, education and retail sectors.

Recognizing the importance of boosting economic and trade ties between UK and Pakistan as part of this dialogue, Baroness Warsi will also hold meetings with the Pakistani business community, revealed an official statement issued by the British High Commission.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2013.