- Rustam Shah says govt should revert back to talks after recent response to terrorism
- Prof Ibrahim says toothless govt committee cannot take decision
Despite recent terrorist attacks by the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), interlocutors from both sides – government and TTP – favoured to tame militancy through talks and demanded to resume peace process.
Peace talks between the government and TTP had ended in deadlock on February 17 after the TTP said they executed 23 FC men to avenge alleged killing of militants by security agencies in Peshawar, Karachi and Swabi.
After a seven-day deadlock, negotiators from both sides on Sunday demanded to restore peace talks.
Rustam Shah Mohmand, a member of government’s committee, said that military operation was not the solution of militancy.
“Terrorism will come to an end with dialogue, not army operations,” he said, adding that the recent PAF airstrikes on militants in North Waziristan, Hangu and Khyber Agency were a reaction to TTP’s violent acts in Karachi and Mohmand Agency.
“The response to terror attacks was enough and the government should now revert back to talks,” Shah said. Military action was not a solution of the problem and the Taliban should be brought into the mainstream under the constitution.
Prof Ibrahim, a member of Taliban nominated committee, said the toothless government committee could not take a decision.
“Some people are setting stage for military operation in North Waziristan but past experiences say that no military operation yielded a positive result,” the cleric said.
“Previous military operations in Waziristan and tribal belt proved unsuccessful and any further action in tribal areas would leave thousands of homeless “and ultimately the flames of terrorism will engulf the entire country,” he recalled.
He said the Taliban-proposed committee was not in contact with the terrorists ever since the talks ended in deadlock after Taliban claimed to slit throats of 23 FC soldiers last week.
Earlier on February 17, the government committee had demanded the Taliban to announce an unconditional ceasefire.
Prof Ibrahim said, “They [government committee members] are not contacting us, perhaps they are powerless.” In fact, neither the government nor its negotiating committee was empowered to meet anyone. “We want to pursue talks but the government committee is refusing,” he added.
However, Shah said that peace has not yet failed; it has just ended in deadlock.
He said, “We cannot change the constitution on the wish of a small group. The constitution belongs to 180 million people. Any amendment in the constitution can be made by parliament only.”