Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Talks With TTP Take Back Seat as Pakistan’s Prime Minister Turns Attention to Political Turmoil
With an uptick in violence, it would be hard for Imran Khan to sway public opinion towards a peace deal with the terror group.After a short hiatus, death and destruction knocked on Peshawar’s doors early March when more than 65 people were killed and over 200 wounded in an attack on a Shiite Mosque in the heart of the city.It is the first major suicide bombing carried out on Pakistani soil after nearly half a decade of peace, thereby signaling that, in the midst of global turmoil, Pakistan too has ventured into what appears to be a second round of the war on terror.The March 4 attack was claimed by the Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISKP), “one of the major beneficiaries of the derailed peace talks between the Pakistani state and the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) conglomerate,” an intelligence official privy to the developments told The Diplomat. It was in an interview with the TRT World that Prime Minister Imran Khan first mentioned peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban and its affiliates, where he said the TTP may be allowed to “live like ordinary citizens” if they surrender and reconcile with the state.
Although the TTP, under its charismatic leader Noor Wali Mehsud, rejected Imran’s amnesty offer, the government confirmed entering into a one-month-long ceasefire with the militant group and initiating peace talks being facilitated by the Afghan Taliban. TTP spokesperson Mohammad Khurasani also confirmed the temporary truce. The Pakistani Taliban’s premise for jihad had stemmed from the United States’ invasion of Afghanistan. It aimed to help the Afghan Taliban regain their territory and viewed the Pakistani military as an enemy that had sided with the Americans. Now, with the foreign forces out of Afghanistan, the militant outfit has put forward a similar argument against the Pakistani state, accusing it of “occupying” their land in the tribal districts. It demanded the government undo all reforms aimed to improve quality of life and extension of constitutional and civil rights to the tribal districts – a near impossible feat.When the 30-day truce period ended on December 9, the TTP decided not to extend the ceasefire after accusing the government of failing to honor promises made and for conducting raids, killing and detaining TTP militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). In February, talks officially resumed. The intelligence official told The Diplomat the government has released at least 100 militants so far except two men who are on death row – and the TTP is adamant on ending their imprisonment. In such a scenario, only a presidential pardon would enable the terrorists’ release. Despite hinting at the possibility of amnesty for members of the TTP last September, President Arif Alvi hasn’t signed off on the presidential pardon yet. The incumbent government is already embroiled in a political crisis with a failing economy and an opposition threatening its existence amid speculations that Khan has lost the support of the military establishment.The country has also witnessed an uptick in violence in the past few months, whether it’s Baloch rebels carrying out sophisticated attacks or the ISKP increasing the frequency and intensity of their terror activities. The TTP also continues to carry out targeted attacks in mostly the northern regions. Defense analysts explain the simultaneous existence of fighting and peace talks as a war strategy. It was seen in Afghanistan too during the Doha talks between the U.S. and Afghan Taliban. In Pakistan, however, the continued violence makes it difficult to sway public opinion towards a presidential pardon. Amid all these uncertainties, the unpopular decision to pardon terrorists would mean political suicide for Khan. In his struggle to save his office, he has pushed the peace talks to the back burner for the time being. The derailed peace process has heightened the confidence of the ISKP leadership – which, although hasn’t officially commented on the peace talks yet, has been critical of it in unofficial chatter on Telegram. The ISKP appears optimistic that the TTP, which is being pushed out of Afghanistan by the new administration and lacks breathing space in Pakistan, would see its members defect to the Islamic State and increase their dominance in the region. https://thediplomat.com/2022/03/talks-with-ttp-take-back-seat-as-pakistans-prime-minister-turns-attention-to-political-turmoil/
#Pakistan #Peshawar mosque attack lays bare intolerance against Shias in Pakistan
Shias are one of the largest persecuted minority groups in Pakistan with scores losing their lives only because of the faith they choose to follow, according to an opinion piece published in The Express Tribune. The blast in a Shia mosque in Peshawar on March 4 resulted in the death of over 60 people, including seven children below 10, and left nearly 200 people injured. While the authorities always cite ‘invisible’ hand seeking to destabilize the country’s fragile security as the reason behind such terror attacks, the Peshawar mosque attack did not target random Pakistani worshippers. These worshippers belonged to the Shia community who have been the victim of these atrocities for decades, according to the media outlet that added that the religion has been used as a political pawn in the history of Pakistan where sectarian violence has an entrenched and deeply political, violent history. Notably, Shias comprise nearly 20 percent of Pakistan’s population and are the target of violence by Sunni Islamist militant groups, including the Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Shias are mostly excluded from positions of power. Doctors, businessmen, and other professionals have been targeted in Karachi by Sunni terrorists on a regular basis. According to one estimate, over 1,900 Shias were killed in bomb blasts or targeted gun attacks from 2012 to May 2015 alone. https://theprint.in/world/peshawar-mosque-attack-lays-bare-intolerance-against-shias-in-pakistan/876697/
#Pakistan #PPP - Forget 1 million, bring 172 to Parliament: Bilawal tells PM Imran Khan
Bilawal Bhutto terms splitting of working relationship with MQM-P a conspiracy.- PPP chairman rejects the involvement of foreign elements behind the no-trust move.
- Bilawal calls 'Kanpen tang rahi hain' video a hoax.
Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari claimed to hit a double century of MNA’s voting against Prime Minister Imran Khan and challenging him to bring 172 members in parliament and forget about one million, Geo News reported Tuesday.
In an interview with senior journalist Hamid Mir in Geo News Programme Capital Talk, Bilawal Bhutto said that Prime Minister’s statement to target Asif Zardari was nothing short of resorting violence against his political opponents, however, his [PM] threat was intolerable and reprehensible.
“He [Imran Khan] can foresee his defeat as he has started hurling abuse and threatening political rivals, however, he added that PM should not threaten anyone in democracy,” he said.
Bilawal said that Imran Khan had taken an undemocratic step by announcing a rally a day before voting as he could see the defeat clearly.
“Therefore, he wants to stop his own members from casting vote and also want to create an environment of confrontation in Islamabad,” he said
Bilawal went on to say that It’s a democratic war so let’s fight in parliament not on road where Imran Khan has to bring only 172 members and not one million.
'Since day one I'm challenging and irritating Imran Khan'
Bilawal said that since day one he was challenging Imran Khan and that was irritating him, adding, “PM is vexed of me that how can a young boy challenge him and not let him run the government.”
“I had declared him selected on the very first day of his regime and now he maintained his identity as selected in the whole world,” he added.
PPP chairman said that Imran Khan wanted to put Asif Zardari in jail, so he could rule the country for the next five years easily, however, neither did Asif Zardari bow down nor sell himself.
On a question that If opposition successfully sails no-trust motion against PM, what will be the next course of action, Bilawal said, “If the government is ousted, we will go for electoral reforms as we want transparent elections in the country, we will consult with other parties about electoral reforms to conduct elections.”
MQM-P and PPP working relationships were damaged through a conspiracy
Bilawal Bhutto also termed splitting of working relationship with MQM-P a conspiracy.
“Talks with the MQM-P are not heading just for the no-trust move but also for a working relationship as we want to restore partnership with MQM-P,” he said.
He said that through a conspiracy MQM-P and PPP working relationships was damaged, however, this partnership was in dire need.
Responding to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s statement about the involvement of foreign elements behind the no-trust move against the prime minister, Bilawal Bhutto challenged and asked the PTI leader to unveil the plot.
"I challenge Shah Mehmood to reveal the foreign conspiracy behind the vote of no confidence. For the past three years, I have been telling and demanding of our Opposition friends that we should go on a long march, protest, and vote of no confidence against this government because this regime is engineered and inorganic."
He went on to say that after three years of effort, we [opposition parties] have reached an agreement to depose this government, so where is the foreign hand in this struggle?
The USA has no interest in the politics of Pakistan
PPP’s chairman also rejected US involvement in a no-trust move, saying that, “USA has no interest in politics of Pakistan as the country has gone into the isolation because of him [PM].”
Bilawal Bhutto also hoped for the success of a no-trust move against the Prime Minister with more than a simple majority.
“All the opposition parties are working hard for the success of no-trust motion and I am sure that we will oust Imran Khan with double century (200) of MNA’s voting against him,” he concluded.
'Kanpen tang rahi hain' video is fake
Bilawal also called a video of him fake, in which he can be seen saying 'Kanpen tang rahi hain' instead of ‘tangen kanp rahi hain’ (Legs are shivering).
"PTI is a master at propaganda and manipulating videos," he claimed. "After watching this clip, I believed it was a slip of the tongue, but there was nothing like that in the original broadcast that I viewed on Geo TV," he added.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/405456-no-trust-motion-bilawal-claims-to-hit-double-century-of-mnas-voting-against-pm
#Pakistan - There were reports that Selected PM Imran Khan would be conspiring against the opposition by initiating fake NAB cases
https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/26599/