This is with respect to Rehman Maliks statement that the government will welcome the Taliban if they surrender arms and join the government in the development of Pakistan. While some ministers talk of military operations to crush Taliban and uproot them, others reconciliatory posturing belies that. The Afghan government has recently seen that a two-pronged strategy of bombing the Taliban and inviting them to talks simultaneously will fail miserably. Its either dialogue or a military campaign, not both. It is unreasonable to expect the Taliban to give up arms voluntarily when the military is pursuing a campaign against them. Statements like these are an indication of the fact that the government still has no clear cut plan to deal with the Taliban. The government needs to make up its mind as to whether it wants to welcome or kick out the Taliban. Otherwise, the Taliban will take the decision for them.
ALI RAOOF
Lahore
