Direct talks: Sherpao emphasises on distancing army from negotiations

Says govt should carefully measure, then consider Taliban’s demands.

PESHAWAR:

Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said the federal government should talk directly to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) without involving the army in the negotiation process.

While speaking at the Guest Hour Programme of Khyber Union of Journalists at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, Sherpao said the centre should hear out TTP’s demands and see if they are acceptable or not.

He pledged QWP’s full support to the federal government if they follow this course. Sherpao said his party also has their own ‘red line’, beyond which they will not support negotiations.

Sherpao appreciated the statement issued after the corps commanders’ conference on Friday, which said the army will not be a part of the new peace committee to be formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The federal government should form a consensus between the treasury and opposition over negotiations, consensus among all provinces is also crucial, added the QWP leader.

“The Federally Administered Tribal Areas are being ignored in the recently-presented national security policy,” claimed Sherpao, calling the policy meaningless and idealistic.

He accused Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of being in a reactionary mood while the nation suffers a state of war.

Sherpao added 2014 was a very important year because of expected presidential elections in Afghanistan and the withdrawal of the US army.

He reiterated peace in Pakistan is directly linked with Afghanistan and expressed fear that if the situation across the border deteriorates, the flow of refugees to Pakistan will restart.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2014.