Wide reaching ramifications: Taliban say talks are off the table
Ehsanullah Ehsan puts forth uncompromising position.
File photo of Ehsanullah Ehsan (L). PHOTO: AFP
Ehsanullah Ehsan, senior commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ruled out any chance of peace talks on Saturday.
In an interview with Newsweek magazine, he declared that dialogue with the government is not even a remote possibility following Hakimullah Mehsud’s death.
“After this incident, there can be no peace talks,” he said. “It would be too generous to say that the possibility of peace talks is zero; the chances are, in fact, below zero. This incident was a violation of Pakhtun culture.”
Ehsan further highlighted his group’s now hardened position by vowing to avenge Hakimullah’s death.
“Hakimullah Mehsud was our leader, our hearts are heavy and our anger will soon be felt by everyone. The ruse of peace talks has been used to eliminate our leaders one by one,” he said, adding that the group will utilise its capabilities to target security organisations and anyone who is “a part of this system.”
During the interview, the TTP commander ruled out the possibility that the death was an inside job, and held the government responsible.
He expressed absolute certainty that the Pakistan Army was behind the strike, and said he was ‘110% sure’ the country’s security organisations were involved, as well.
“For every drone attack, about 80% of the information and ground intelligence is provided by Pakistani security organisations,” Ehsan claimed.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2013.