Peace talks vs operations: The house stands united, for now

Political parties seem to be on same page vis-à-vis negotiations with Taliban.

PESHAWAR:

Almost all political parties of the country are on the same page with regards to negotiations with the Taliban and giving peace a chance.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been the most vocal proponent of peace talks and had been pushing the centre towards them after forming their own government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

With negotiations under way, the PTI central and provincial leadership has termed recent terrorist acts a plot by external forces to derail the process and create the atmosphere for another military operation.



PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while talking to The Express Tribune, said the government has carried out military operations in the tribal areas in the past and all but a few have failed, adding the government should thus focus on peace talks with the Taliban.

“PTI feels the threat of paving the way for a military onslaught is there but we, at all costs, will facilitate the peace talks,” said the former foreign minister, adding the committees should be focused on their task and not let rumours obfuscate the process.

PTI provincial president Azam Swati said some hired killers were involved in the recent violence, adding “known” elements have been making a case against the talks since day one.

Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Amir Muqam said it was a difficult task to hold talks with the Taliban, however, the government is sincerely involved in the ongoing process and hopes talks will help solve the situation.

On the other hand, former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) provincial minister Rahimdad Khan said things were still blurry as the committees tasked to hold negotiations were hesitant to share things publically, which is adding to the confusion. “The government wants to establish its writ while attacks are under way,” Khan said, adding the government needs to address the longstanding issues of the tribal areas.

Moreover, senior leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Jan Achakzai said, “The idea should be to address militancy as a whole and not engage with only one group as others may continue their activities claiming they have not been negotiated with.”  He said despite that, even if a single person agrees to lay down arms it is a welcome development.

Following their coalition partners in K-P, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has stated talks are the only option to bring peace in the region. “We believe in talks and our involvement in the peace process is evident of our sincerity,” said Shabbir Ahmad Khan, JI’s provincial general secretary.

Qaumi Watan Party’s Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli agreed with the former PPP minister and said “We hope the peace talks are a success but the nation must know who we are talking to, the confusion must end.”

Former minister and Awami National Party (ANP) leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain has offered his personal services in the negotiations owing to his past experience of talking peace with the Taliban during 2009.

However, he said people living close to the tribal areas have started migrating to Peshawar and termed it a sign of militants increasing their foothold. “The provincial capital needs to be sealed and every single person thoroughly checked before entry into the capital,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2014.