Peace talks: TTP panel not against army involvement
Munawar Hassan urges Taliban to assist govt in identifying terrorist groups.
JI Chief Munawar Hassan. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE/CHARSADDA:
The Taliban’s intermediary committee member said on Friday that it would not oppose the army’s inclusion in the negotiations since it is what the government itself wanted.
“The army’s participation in peace talks is not our demand, but if the govt wants to make the army part of the process, we have no objection,” committee member Prof Ibrahim Khan told reporters following a workers convention in Charsadda.
At the same time, Professor Muhammad Ibrahim took a gentle swipe at the government committee. “They realised that they have no decision-making power when they demanded formation of a new powerful committee,” he said.
Yet, he said, some people think that the induction of such powerful institutions will make the talks fruitful.
Professor Ibrahim added that the government peace committee would not be dissolved but would just be expanded.
He told reporters that the committee had asked the Taliban to condemn the Islamabad court attack but that “is not the solution”.
“The irony is that those who violated the constitution are the ones demanding that the Taliban respect the constitution.”
“When the Taliban and army sit together on the table most problems will be solved,” Professor Ibrahim said. He also demanded to meet with army chief and Inter-Services Intelligence chief.
Jamaat chief
JI chief Munawar Hassan has hailed the government’s decision of involving the armed forces in the dialogue process with Taliban.
“The government has the authority to utilise the forces and their agencies wherever it feels necessary,” he said, adding that the armed forces should also be taken into confidence regarding the talks.
Talking to journalists at the Lahore airport on Friday, the JI chief appreciated the government’s decision to hold direct talks with the Taliban and said the move was critical for the success of the talks.
He urged the Taliban to assist the government in tracking down groups involved in terrorist activities to ensure peace across the country.
He claimed that opponents of the talks were working on a foreign agenda to plunge the country and the nation into a plethora of problems.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2014.
The Taliban’s intermediary committee member said on Friday that it would not oppose the army’s inclusion in the negotiations since it is what the government itself wanted.
“The army’s participation in peace talks is not our demand, but if the govt wants to make the army part of the process, we have no objection,” committee member Prof Ibrahim Khan told reporters following a workers convention in Charsadda.
At the same time, Professor Muhammad Ibrahim took a gentle swipe at the government committee. “They realised that they have no decision-making power when they demanded formation of a new powerful committee,” he said.
Yet, he said, some people think that the induction of such powerful institutions will make the talks fruitful.
Professor Ibrahim added that the government peace committee would not be dissolved but would just be expanded.
He told reporters that the committee had asked the Taliban to condemn the Islamabad court attack but that “is not the solution”.
“The irony is that those who violated the constitution are the ones demanding that the Taliban respect the constitution.”
“When the Taliban and army sit together on the table most problems will be solved,” Professor Ibrahim said. He also demanded to meet with army chief and Inter-Services Intelligence chief.
Jamaat chief
JI chief Munawar Hassan has hailed the government’s decision of involving the armed forces in the dialogue process with Taliban.
“The government has the authority to utilise the forces and their agencies wherever it feels necessary,” he said, adding that the armed forces should also be taken into confidence regarding the talks.
Talking to journalists at the Lahore airport on Friday, the JI chief appreciated the government’s decision to hold direct talks with the Taliban and said the move was critical for the success of the talks.
He urged the Taliban to assist the government in tracking down groups involved in terrorist activities to ensure peace across the country.
He claimed that opponents of the talks were working on a foreign agenda to plunge the country and the nation into a plethora of problems.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2014.