Statement made up to end Fazl-TTP trust: JUI-F spokesman
With the government finalising its preparations for holding talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the lack of trust shown by the TTP leadership towards Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chairman Fazlur Rehman and Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawwar Hassan has allegedly irked both the leaders who supposedly have close links with the Taliban.
Sources told Pakistan Today that the leaders of both the religious political parties were trying, through backchannels, to unveil the reason for the TTP leadership’s public ‘no-trust’ disclosure against them.
The TTP had earlier said that the JUI-F and JI chiefs and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may act as mediators for the peace talks.
When contacted, Munawwar said the TTP’s move had no impact on him as the offer was initially made by the TTP leadership and he had not offered to act as a mediator himself, adding that he would have had a small role in the peace talks with his minimum resources as only the government and the Taliban could make decisions.
He opined that the PM looked confused while talking about peace talks with the Taliban, adding that it sent mixed signals to the Taliban, which could be counterproductive.
“You talk about dialogue and then in the same breath, you talk about the use of force. Only dialogue can produce peace, and talks can’t be held on gunpoint,” he said.
“Before deciding to take up arms against the Taliban, the PM should analyse how much peace has been achieved by army operations in Swat, South Waziristan and other areas,” he said.
Hassan said that the All Parties’ Conference called by the PM may also be counterproductive unless a proper strategy was followed. He said the political leadership of all parties should be briefed on the actual situation and the pros and cons of each option should be discussed during the APC.
Talking to Pakistan Today, JUI-F spokesman Jan Achakzai said he would be able to comment over the TTP’s statement in around 48 hours as presently there were doubts about the statement’s authenticity, adding that apparently it was aimed at damaging the trust between the JUI-F chairman and the TTP.