His policy of talks has failed, badly
Ch Nisar should blame his own shortsightedness than any other factor for the failure of his policy of appeasement towards the Taliban groups. It was unrealistic on his part to neglect the internal security and divert full attention to a dialogue that was bound to lead to nowhere. To prove the ‘patriotism’ of a group which was trying single-mindedly to destroy the state, Nisar had to indulge in dissimulations. On Friday, he said there hasn’t been a major terrorist attack for days, forgetting the Islamabad Sabzi Mandi blast that killed 23.
Ch Nisar is now being criticised by the TTP and members of its negotiating committee. TTP spokesman Shahiullah Shahid has maintained that the government is powerless and the army is pursuing an altogether different agenda. This caused annoyance to Ch Nisar who has called it an attempt to create an impression of a rift between the government and military. Shahidullah Shahid has also said that the TTP doesn’t know who to talk to for peace, thus calling into questions Ch Nisar’s credentials. Ch Nisar’s claim that delay in the next direct meeting with the Taliban Shura was due to the internal rift within the militant outfit, was refuted by Maulana Yousuf Shah, coordinator of the Taliban-nominated committee. Shah maintained that there was no rift in the TTP and the delay was taking place because he had not witnessing the kind of seriousness (on the government’s part) for the last ten days that was seen in initial stages of peace talks.
Ch Nisar has become irrelevant in the resolution of the issue of militancy because of his unrealistic perception of the problem and a dogged pursuit of a faulty policy. Thus he has left no other option for the army but to proceed to ensure that the TTP does not improve its position under the garb of talks. The warning given by the COAS on Martyr’s Day to the terrorists was timely. On Saturday the army launched an offensive in South Waziristan and destroyed the TTP hideouts.
Ch Nisar has had enough time. He has however failed to produce any positive result. A number of opposition parties had been expressing dissatisfaction with his approach. Now even the TTP has lost confidence in him. This indicates the need to formulate a more realistic policy towards the Taliban groups. It would be pointless to continue the talks further as they have failed to bring peace. The prime minister has returned from London. It is time the government devised a new line of action to rid the country of the scourge of terrorism.