The recent statement by Hamid Karzai that the US is in talks with the Taliban has let the cat out of the bag. Since the US is making plans to pull their troops out of Afghanistan in the coming years, this may be deemed a wise move as they cannot leave the country in the grip of turmoil and conflict.
Many people will now argue that a similar strategy should be employed in Pakistan to bring the local factions of the Taliban to the table.
These are the people who like certain parts of the establishment would like to distinguish between the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ Taliban. While a more nuanced understanding of factionalism within the Taliban may help when dealing with them, it is not necessary that this distinction is anything more than instrumental.
What people need to realise is that the case of Pakistan is different and that what may work for Afghanistan will not work here. Negotiating with the Taliban requires that they be willing to lay down arms and they have professed no such inclination to do so. Talks with them can only be an option if they put an end to the havoc they are spreading. Otherwise, negotiation with them (even those involving local tribal elders) will be a lost cause.
NASEER AHMAD BADAR
Lahore
