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#Pakistan - Making peace with militants

 @hidhussain

DAYS after surrendering to the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, the government has announced a month-long ceasefire with another banned terrorist outfit. We are told that there has been substantive development in the ongoing negotiations with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), brokered by the Afghan Taliban. But we still don’t know on what terms the so-called peace is being negotiated with a terrorist group that had declared war on the Pakistani state and had killed thousands of people.

According to a media report, the group wants the release of several hundred militants, many of whom were involved in terrorist attacks, before the start of negotiations. That would contradict the government’s claim of having made significant progress in the talks. The information minister says that the negotiations are being held under a constitutional framework. But there is no clear answer to the question of how the state can talk peace with a group, which is banned as a terrorist outfit and which has not surrendered.

There was no cessation in hostilities while Pakistani security officials engaged in talks. Just days before the ceasefire announcement, an ambush in North Waziristan claimed the lives of four soldiers. Scores of soldiers have lost their lives in renewed terrorist attacks over the last few months in former Fata. Such an escalation in violence raises questions about a tentative truce delivering peace.

It appears that it is the state that has virtually surrendered to a group that is also on the list of global terrorist networks. There is no indication yet that the TTP is willing to lay down its arms and accept the Constitution. The demand for the release of prisoners before talks would make it clear that the outfit seeks to negotiate from a position of strength.

The ambiguity around the terms of negotiations has made the talks extremely controversial.

It seems to follow the pattern of past peace negotiations with the militant group. Each peace deal further empowered the terrorist outfit. The latest talks are likely to be used by the TTP to reorganise itself and regain its space in the tribal districts. There are already some reports of the revival of TTP activities in parts of the area. The return of Taliban rule in Afghanistan seems to have further emboldened the proscribed network.

It was in December 2007 that several militant groups operating in different parts of Fata and KP formed the TTP under the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud. The TTP had an agenda to enforce its own retrogressive version of Sharia rule in the country. Its birth came in the aftermath of the Lal Masjid operation in Islamabad that saw a massive rise in terrorist attacks in the country.

There is no doubt that the formation of the TTP had the blessings of Al Qaeda. They jointly carried out high-profile terrorist attacks across the country targeting civilians as well as security installations. The nexus was responsible for the devastating attacks on the GHQ and ISI installations. By 2008, the militants had virtually established their rule over large swathes of territory in northern Pakistan presenting an existentialist threat to the country. It was on Pakistan’s urging that the TTP was declared a global terrorist group. The TTP benefited from the weak response of the security establishment and a series of peace deals, with the state virtually surrendering its writ. It was only after 2009 that the security forces launched massive operations against the militant group. It took more than six years before the tribal belt was cleared of the militants at a huge human and economic cost. Hundreds of thousands of troops were involved in the action. The massacre at Peshawar’s Army Public School that left almost 150 students and staff members dead was the most heinous terrorist attack in the country’s history.

Most critical was the North Waziristan operation that finally broke the back of the TTP. Pushed into Afghanistan, the group disintegrated into several factions, some joining the so-called Islamic State’s Khorasan chapter. Many others were reportedly provided sanctuaries by various Afghan Taliban groups. That has also given the Afghan Taliban huge leverage over the TTP.

Apparently, it was after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan that backchannel contacts between Pakistani security agencies and the TTP were established. The talks were facilitated by the Haqqani Network that has long maintained close ties with the Pakistani militant group.

It is not that the state should not talk to militant groups but the real issue is on what terms. Negotiations make sense only after the militants agree to a complete surrender of arms. But there is no such indication. The TTP has only agreed to a short-term ceasefire, and as has happened in the past, will use the truce to regain its lost space. Most troubling, however, is the absence of a clear strategy on the part of the state on how to deal with terrorist and violent faith-based extremist groups. There has not been any effort to develop a national consensus on such critical national security issues. Curiously, it was in a media interview that the prime minister made the disclosure that his government was in talks with the fiercest of militant groups. Apparently, the issue was not even deliberated in the cabinet let alone parliament. The opposition was only briefed on the development by the military leadership this week. But the prime minister is still not willing to take the nation into confidence on this sensitive issue.

The ambiguity around the terms of negotiations has made the talks extremely controversial. The whole episode has reinforced suspicions that it is pressure from the Afghan Taliban that has compelled Pakistan to engage with the TTP. The change in Afghanistan and our support for the conservative regime there appears to have also caused the authorities to soft-pedal the group.

Any deal with the TTP is likely to reverse the gains the country has made in its battle against terrorism and violent extremism. Unconditional negotiations will legitimise the terrorist group. The shameful deal with the TLP last week and talks with the TTP should be cause for serious concern. It certainly raises questions about our resolve to fight terrorism.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1657059/making-peace-with-militants

Cut ties with terrorist groups and eliminate them, Pakistan, China, Russia & US tell Taliban

NAYANIMA BASU

Pakistan PM meets Taliban delegation, assures support for Afghan people. Meetings took place in Islamabad a day after India hosted a dialogue of security chiefs of 7 nations.

Pakistan, China, Russia and the US Thursday asked the Taliban to cut ties with all international terrorist groups, dismantle and eliminate them in a “decisive manner”, and “deny space to any terrorist organisation operating inside” Afghanistan.

The statement came as Islamabad hosted the Troika Plus conference, which was attended by special representatives of China (Yue Xiaoyong), Russia (Zamir Kabulov) and the US (Thomas West). A Taliban delegation led by interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also participated.

Muttaqi also held separate meetings with the senior Pakistani government officials, including Prime Minister Imran Khan.

According to the joint statement issued after the meeting, the four nations said they expect the Taliban to “fulfill their commitment to prevent use of Afghan territory by terrorists against its neighbors, other countries in the region and the rest of the world”. They condemned in “strongest terms” the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan. They also called on the Taliban to take a friendly approach towards neighbouring countries, and to uphold Afghanistan’s legal obligations, including universally accepted principles of international law and fundamental human rights, and to protect the safety and legitimate rights of foreign nationals and institutions in the country.

The Troika Plus also expressed concern over the “potential” of an “economic collapse” of Afghanistan and “significantly worsening humanitarian crisis and a new refugee wave”. However, it “welcomed the international community’s urgent provision of humanitarian assistance” to Kabul.

Qureshi pushes world for ‘positive engagement’ with Taliban.Pakistan again called upon the international community to have a “positive engagement” with the interim Taliban government, adding that Islamabad as an immediate neighbour has a “direct stake” in the peace and stability of Afghanistan.

“Located next door, we have borne the brunt of four decades of conflict and instability in the shape of refugees, drugs and terrorism. We see the current situation as an opportunity to end the prolonged conflict,” Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said at the meeting.

“We believe Taliban are interested in engagement, as they seek international acceptance and support. It is, therefore, crucial that the international community avoids repeating mistakes of the past and continues with positive engagement,” he added. The Troika Plus grouping, which met after three months, also met the Taliban delegation separately, which happened for the first time since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August. “Troika Plus also met with the Afghan Acting Foreign Minister to discuss the conclusions of Troika Plus meeting and hear perspective of the Afghan Interim Government,” tweeted Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.

The countries also discussed the steps Pakistan has already taken to help people in Afghanistan. “These include waiver of customs duties on perishable food items to support farmers in Afghanistan, provision of humanitarian assistance, facilitating pedestrian movement, keeping the border open during Covid-19 and visa on arrival for medical cases,” the statement said.

The Taliban delegation landed in Pakistan Wednesday in a visit that coincided with India’s Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Imran Khan says Pakistan will stand by Afghan people

The Taliban delegation also met the Pakistani leadership on the sidelines of the Troika Plus meeting.

“Pakistan has always stood with the Afghan people in their hour of need. We have assured Afghan acting FM Amir Khan Muttaqi & his delegation we will provide all possible humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. We are sending essential food items, emergency medical supplies & winter shelters to provide immediate relief to Afghan people,” Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a tweet Thursday.

“We will also provide free Covid 19 vaccines to all Afghans travelling across the border into Pak. Again I urge the int community to fulfil its collective responsibility to avert a grave humanitarian crisis confronting people of Afghanistan (sic),” he added.

The next round of Troika Plus meeting will be held in Beijing, where the interim Afghan government has also been invited, confirmed Qureshi.

https://theprint.in/world/cut-ties-with-terrorist-groups-and-eliminate-them-pakistan-china-russia-us-tell-taliban/764845/