Military sources say govt has freed 32 Taliban prisoners but has not even once sought a list of armymen in Taliban custody
It appears that the former army chief’s indictment in a high treason case and preservation of the armed forces’ dignity and protection of the motherland are not the only issues on the Establishment’s mind, as Pakistan Today has learnt that the army is “unhappy” over the government’s “apologetic” approach towards peace talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as well.
After the expiry of ceasefire extension yesterday (April 10), also given a stalled dialogue process with the Taliban, the security concerns in the country are rising faster than the mercury as the spring season bids farewell to the land of the pure. The nation has its fingers crossed and the government is silent.
Sources privy to the khakis’ concerns tell Pakistan Today that the security establishment and the government seem “poles apart” over the ongoing Taliban peace talks mantra, with the army feeling that the country’s political leadership is sticking with its “apologetic” approach towards peace talks while the Taliban are pursuing a more “assertive” strategy.
Sources say that the army is concerned over the government’s alleged failure in putting forward the demand for the release of the army’s abducted men, while it has already released as many as 32 TTP operatives as a confidence-building measure (CBM).
According to a source, the government is yet to demand the release of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Brigadier (r) Tahir Masood while the Taliban have demanded the release of Aqeel alias Dr Usman.
Dr Usman is a former member of the army’s medical corps who is on death row for orchestrating a suicide attack on the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi in 2009, while Brigadier Masood was kidnapped by militants around three years ago while he was serving as the head of the ISI’s Media Wing. Dr Usman’s hanging was put on hold only after TTP threats that in case of his hanging, the top leadership of the ruling party would be targeted.
Though the government has yet not taken any decision over the recent demand by TTP, it has already “shaken” the armed forces’ leadership, the source said.
FLAWED STRATEGY:
The khakis, according to the source, are “unhappy” over Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government’s “flawed strategy” for the dialogue process, with insiders claiming that despite the fact that “lines have been crossed by the TTP” in making demands, the government was unable to evolve a counter strategy.
“Lists after lists from militants are being received by the government despite releasing 32 militants. However, no counter demands are being made from our side. Rather, the army is being quizzed by the government and details of detained terrorists are being sought,” the source added.
The source said that the army leadership was concerned that the government has never sought a list of the abducted officials of the armed forces who have been abducted by militants.
“Take the case of Brigadier (r) Tahir Masood as an example. He was abducted in year 2011 but his family or relatives have yet not received any demand from the abductors. He had undergone an open heart surgery and was on medication. We don’t know whether he is alive or dead but what we know is that nobody cares about his release,” the source added.
Asked whether the TTP had ever claimed responsibility for Brig Masood’s abduction, the source said that his name was mentioned only once in a threat from the TTP, stating that he along with others will be killed if their demands were not met by the government. “We have not heard of him since then,” the source added.
Despite repeated attempts, Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan nor any other senior ministry official was available for comments on the issue.