Pakistan: Time to take out TTP

There are deep dissensions among the Taliban leading to infighting that has already taken toll of nearly 60 fighters. The TTP spokesman Shahidulah Shahid, who never missed an opportunity to talk to the media, has gone into hibernation. TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah remains holed up in eastern Afghanistan since he was forced to run for his life from Swat six years back. What is more he is considered an outsider by the Mehsuds who constitute the core group of the TTP. The negative factors have badly affected the performance of the terrorist umbrella organisation. This provides a golden opportunity to the army to put an end to the terrorist threat once for all. The confusion and demoralisation prevailing in the TTP ranks have reduced the frequency and the enormity of terrorist attacks. With South Waziristan turning into a battleground between two warring groups of the militants, the supply of suicide bombers has been drastically reduced. Unlike a highly energetic and colourful Hakimullah Mehsud who knew how to manipulate media, the new TTP chief remains an ineffective recluse. Deprived of his local FM channel, the erstwhile Mullah Radio has lost a facility that he once used to produce enormous effect.

Suffering from a shortage of suicide bombers the TTP is now launching attacks through less effective conventional methods. The blast outside Rangers office in Karachi injured a few on Wednesday. There were more casualties in the attacks on Islamabad court and the fruit market in the twin cities. The government is however gradually improving the intelligence system and is often able to forewarn the administration about such attacks.

Peace talks have become irrelevant now. They can only yield results after the bulk of the leadership and cadre of the TTP is taken out and the network is forced to sue for peace on terms dictated by the government. Initiation of talks with the TTP at this stage would amount to providing them a breathing space and an opportunity to overcome their shortcoming. The operation conducted in North Waziristan on Wednesday needs to be extended to all tribal areas wherever actionable intelligence about militant gatherings is available.

There is also a need to coordinate with the next Afghan government and ISAF troops to finish off terrorist groups on both sides of the Durand Line. A hammer-and-anvil type operation is required to flush them out from their sanctuaries. It is only through joint actions of the sort that terrorists like Fazlullah and Khalid Omar Khorasani can be taken care of.