High level huddle: Civil, military leadership to discuss peace process
The focus of the huddle will be on the progress so far achieved in the nascent peace talks with the TTP.
It is the first time army chief General Raheel Sharif will be meeting the prime minister and defence minister following the recent tensions over the trial of former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The country’s top civil and military leadership will meet today (Thursday) to discuss the fate of the brittle peace process after the Taliban decided not to extend the 40-day ceasefire, officials said on Wednesday.
The meeting on national security will be chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and attended by federal ministers for defence and information as well three services chiefs and heads of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).
It is the first time army chief General Raheel Sharif will be meeting the prime minister and defence minister following the recent tensions over the trial of former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
Official sources claimed that the high-level meeting was a clear indication that “things are not as bad as portrayed in the media” as far as civil-military relations were concerned.
The focus of the huddle will be on the progress so far achieved in the nascent peace talks with the TTP. The fate of talks appears to be hanging in the balance after the militants called off the ceasefire.
A government negotiator told The Express Tribune that ‘urgent decisions’ would have to be taken in order to revive the peace process. “If urgent steps are not taken in the next couple of days then I am afraid talks are going to collapse,” said the member, requesting anonymity.
The government has released around 30 so-called ‘non-combatant’ Taliban prisoners, but the militants insist it is not enough. The Express Tribune has learnt that the meeting on national security will entail important decisions regarding the peace process.
Another issue that is going to be discussed during the meeting is the controversy surrounding the Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO). The meeting would discuss how to deal with growing criticism over the proposed legislation by opposition parties and human rights groups.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2014.
The country’s top civil and military leadership will meet today (Thursday) to discuss the fate of the brittle peace process after the Taliban decided not to extend the 40-day ceasefire, officials said on Wednesday.
The meeting on national security will be chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and attended by federal ministers for defence and information as well three services chiefs and heads of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).
It is the first time army chief General Raheel Sharif will be meeting the prime minister and defence minister following the recent tensions over the trial of former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
Official sources claimed that the high-level meeting was a clear indication that “things are not as bad as portrayed in the media” as far as civil-military relations were concerned.
The focus of the huddle will be on the progress so far achieved in the nascent peace talks with the TTP. The fate of talks appears to be hanging in the balance after the militants called off the ceasefire.
A government negotiator told The Express Tribune that ‘urgent decisions’ would have to be taken in order to revive the peace process. “If urgent steps are not taken in the next couple of days then I am afraid talks are going to collapse,” said the member, requesting anonymity.
The government has released around 30 so-called ‘non-combatant’ Taliban prisoners, but the militants insist it is not enough. The Express Tribune has learnt that the meeting on national security will entail important decisions regarding the peace process.
Another issue that is going to be discussed during the meeting is the controversy surrounding the Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO). The meeting would discuss how to deal with growing criticism over the proposed legislation by opposition parties and human rights groups.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2014.