Yesterday, On Friday at noon, nine innocent people died and forty-five were reported injured in a blast in Peshawar; minutes later, a blast in Quetta ended the lives of eleven Pakistanis and wounded forty-two.
The timing might indicate that both the blasts were synchronized and the result of efforts either by one major terrorist organization or coordinated endeavors of two splinter groups.
Whatever, the views of leaders, for the people talks or no talks, violence is the result in any instance. People are now asking the question: Why go through the efforts of peace negotiations and spend time and energy on the process when bombs continue to kill Pakistanis, nevertheless.
The issue of how to deal with the TTP is becoming evermore complex, as each act of violence by militants and at the same time their overtures for peace are now being interpreted from different and opposing angles. If one is a supporter of talks, one can say that the TTP and many of its affiliated groups are in favour of peace talks. If one, however, is of a mind that the only way to end militancy is through a relentless military operation; then one may say the Taliban announcement of ceasefire is just a hoax and militants are carrying out acts of violence while raising the ruse of talks.
Amidst this confusing situation, the Taliban peace talks committee which went to North Waziristan and held parleys with the TTP Shura on its return on Friday has struck very hopeful notes in a general sort of way. But even the positive expectations of the committee did not clear the situation as it did not disclose the particulars of the TTP conditions for peace and as such it is hard for others to share the committee members' enthusiasm regarding the prospects of putting an end to militancy in the country.
The Taliban spokesman Shahid Ullah Shahid has, however, disclaimed and condemned the both acts of violence.
The Frontier Post in its editorials, when Nawaz Sharif initially showed willingness to talk with Taliban, had warned the Islamabad government of falling into the pitfall of confusion and putting the whole nation in a perplexing situation if it accepted the Taliban talks offer without TTP guaranteeing that there will be not acts of terror from its side or of its affiliate groups.
Now, each blast that takes place anywhere in Pakistan, it discredits the TTP claim of being an umbrella organization of all hues of Taliban. At the same time, it weakens both the PML-N and PTI leaders' stance that talks is the only solution to ending violence. The continued acts of terror are hardening the ordinary people's stance against Taliban. The pressure of popular opinion has become so great that even Imran Khan, the staunchest supporter of talks, has given a public statement that if negations fail, he will support an all out operation against the militants.
A division, apparently, has taken place among the various groups of Taliban between those who want to continue talks and those who want to carry on with violence.
Seemingly, the TTP has indicated by its insistence on keeping the ceasefire intact that it wants peace. Many, however, are perplexed at the Talibans main group's sudden offer of peace talks two months ago and now its persistence to keep the truce alive when previously it doubted the loyalty of the leaders and the ordinary people towards Islam. Some say the supply of funds and arms which kept the Taliban going as a fighting force is dwindling after US announcement to quit Afghanistan and Washington's interests in the area though are the same, its strategy has changed. Now it wants strong and stable Pakistan and Afghanistan to take care of its global interests, therefore, it does not want to weaken the governments of these two countries. The Strong and fighting fit Pakistani Taliban can only be destructive towards US global policy. The other theory being that the Taliban are waiting for warm weather before they can launch their offensive against Pak forces.
To dispel these negative notions, TTP has to show its sincerity for talks by helping in creating conditions conducive for the same. In spite of the fact that Nawaz Sharif government did not demand or get iron clad assurance of non-violence during the peace process, the TTP cannot escape its responsibility by just condemning or distancing itself from the violent acts of the so said small terrorist groups. The TTP, if it is not involved in a double game of blasts-and-talks policy, has to convince through reasoning its sister terrorist groups or come out swinging and subdue the bands that do not quit violence.
The Frontier Post strongly believes that, other than cementing the already anti-terrorist public opinion against Taliban, the talks-and-blasts situation is not going to serve any useful purpose.
Nobody wants war and bloodshed but where peaceful means are not appreciated, war is the only option left. The government, instead of waiting for more Pakistanis to die, should launch a full scale offensive; nothing will be achieved by delaying the inevitable.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Peshawar & Quetta Blasts: Delaying the inevitable
Yesterday, On Friday at noon, nine innocent people died and forty-five were reported injured in a blast in Peshawar; minutes later, a blast in Quetta ended the lives of eleven Pakistanis and wounded forty-two.
The timing might indicate that both the blasts were synchronized and the result of efforts either by one major terrorist organization or coordinated endeavors of two splinter groups.
Whatever, the views of leaders, for the people talks or no talks, violence is the result in any instance. People are now asking the question: Why go through the efforts of peace negotiations and spend time and energy on the process when bombs continue to kill Pakistanis, nevertheless.
The issue of how to deal with the TTP is becoming evermore complex, as each act of violence by militants and at the same time their overtures for peace are now being interpreted from different and opposing angles. If one is a supporter of talks, one can say that the TTP and many of its affiliated groups are in favour of peace talks. If one, however, is of a mind that the only way to end militancy is through a relentless military operation; then one may say the Taliban announcement of ceasefire is just a hoax and militants are carrying out acts of violence while raising the ruse of talks.
Amidst this confusing situation, the Taliban peace talks committee which went to North Waziristan and held parleys with the TTP Shura on its return on Friday has struck very hopeful notes in a general sort of way. But even the positive expectations of the committee did not clear the situation as it did not disclose the particulars of the TTP conditions for peace and as such it is hard for others to share the committee members' enthusiasm regarding the prospects of putting an end to militancy in the country.
The Taliban spokesman Shahid Ullah Shahid has, however, disclaimed and condemned the both acts of violence.
The Frontier Post in its editorials, when Nawaz Sharif initially showed willingness to talk with Taliban, had warned the Islamabad government of falling into the pitfall of confusion and putting the whole nation in a perplexing situation if it accepted the Taliban talks offer without TTP guaranteeing that there will be not acts of terror from its side or of its affiliate groups.
Now, each blast that takes place anywhere in Pakistan, it discredits the TTP claim of being an umbrella organization of all hues of Taliban. At the same time, it weakens both the PML-N and PTI leaders' stance that talks is the only solution to ending violence. The continued acts of terror are hardening the ordinary people's stance against Taliban. The pressure of popular opinion has become so great that even Imran Khan, the staunchest supporter of talks, has given a public statement that if negations fail, he will support an all out operation against the militants.
A division, apparently, has taken place among the various groups of Taliban between those who want to continue talks and those who want to carry on with violence.
Seemingly, the TTP has indicated by its insistence on keeping the ceasefire intact that it wants peace. Many, however, are perplexed at the Talibans main group's sudden offer of peace talks two months ago and now its persistence to keep the truce alive when previously it doubted the loyalty of the leaders and the ordinary people towards Islam. Some say the supply of funds and arms which kept the Taliban going as a fighting force is dwindling after US announcement to quit Afghanistan and Washington's interests in the area though are the same, its strategy has changed. Now it wants strong and stable Pakistan and Afghanistan to take care of its global interests, therefore, it does not want to weaken the governments of these two countries. The Strong and fighting fit Pakistani Taliban can only be destructive towards US global policy. The other theory being that the Taliban are waiting for warm weather before they can launch their offensive against Pak forces.
To dispel these negative notions, TTP has to show its sincerity for talks by helping in creating conditions conducive for the same. In spite of the fact that Nawaz Sharif government did not demand or get iron clad assurance of non-violence during the peace process, the TTP cannot escape its responsibility by just condemning or distancing itself from the violent acts of the so said small terrorist groups. The TTP, if it is not involved in a double game of blasts-and-talks policy, has to convince through reasoning its sister terrorist groups or come out swinging and subdue the bands that do not quit violence.
The Frontier Post strongly believes that, other than cementing the already anti-terrorist public opinion against Taliban, the talks-and-blasts situation is not going to serve any useful purpose.
Nobody wants war and bloodshed but where peaceful means are not appreciated, war is the only option left. The government, instead of waiting for more Pakistanis to die, should launch a full scale offensive; nothing will be achieved by delaying the inevitable.
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