- Negotiators losing hope for breakthrough in talks as TTP Shura busy in resolving infighting between Mehsud commanders
- It takes two to tango, says Rustam Shah Mohmand urging the need for bilateral prisoners release
The infighting between Khan Said Sajna and Shehryar Mehsud groups of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has not only delayed the decision of TTP Shura on ceasefire extension but has also brought to existence the possibility of revamping of the Shura, Taliban’s highest decision-making body.
At least 25 militants have been killed in the infighting which was triggered last week between two Mehsud militant groups.
Sources privy to the development taking place in Waziristan told Pakistan Today that the infighting could result into revamping of the Taliban Shura, while the internal strife has also delayed a decision on the ceasefire extension, which ended Thursday night in silence from both sides.
When contacted, government negotiator Rustam Shah Mohmand told Pakistan Today that an immediate breakthrough in the dialogue process was not possible as the negotiators could not contact the TTP leadership, which was busy in resolving their disputes.
“I think that the chances for an immediate meeting with the TTP Shura are not so bright. We will go for a meeting soon after the internal dispute is resolved amicably,” he said, adding that despite the focus being on resolving intra-TTP differences, the Taliban Shura was holding meetings to also deliberate upon the dialogue process.
“However, since the internal dispute is a sensitive matter, their focus in on resolving this issue immediately,” he said.
Mohmand also attributed the delay in the meeting to the fact that the government had announced to release 12 suspects detained by the government but had failed to find any evidence against them.
“This had been decided that those arrested will have to be released against those the investigators cannot file evidence. Moreover, this release will have to be reciprocated by the Taliban as well,” he added.
Asked whether the Taliban had agreed to release the kidnapped civilians and military officials, Mohmand said that one always needed two to tango.
“Definitely, both sides will have to release their prisoners. Since the civilians and army men kidnapped were all innocent, the Taliban will also have to release them as the government has already released some of the detainees while rest will be released soon,” he maintained.
Elaborating on the release of prisoners, he said that the release of the abducted will kick off in phases as soon as the detainees are cleared by the agencies.
Commenting on the concerns of the armed forces, civilian government and the civil society on allowing a free zone for the militants in Waziristan – being dubbed as ‘surrender’ by the state – Mohmand said that even the negotiating panels believed that the government could not surrender its territory.
“We all have been in the government and we understand that withdrawal from any area will be tantamount to state surrender. However, the Taliban say that they needed an area where they could move freely in a secure environment to facilitate the meetings with the government negotiators and where they could also hold meetings to take decisions without fearing attacks.”
Asked to comment on the investigators’ view that the TTP groups were behind both recent attacks in the federal capital to build more pressure over the government to get its prisoners’ released, Mohmand rubbished the notion, saying that blasts could not be used as an arm-twisting tool against any government.
“There have been blasts in past but no government surrendered its writ. So the notion that blasts were being used to pressurize the government is not a valid argument. Why would the Taliban attack when we are talking to resolve the issue,” he concluded.