Imran Khan’s pet project
As was expected, those advocating against the war on terror see a sort of vindication in the American desire to engage the Taliban in dialogue. “I told the world some eight years ago that there was no military solution to this problem as the only way out is to hold talks and settle it politically but at that time they called me ‘Taliban Khan’ but now they all agree with me as they could not win this so-called war on terrorism,” he said recently in the UAE.
Rather than getting into ad hominem attacks about Mr Khan’s personal shift towards conservative religiosity late in life, as his detractors unfortunately take to, it would be correct to point out the incorrect analogy between the American efforts and the situation in Pakistan. It would also be the right time to critically analyse his offer to mediate with the Taliban upon a possible request by the government.
A comparative analysis between the two neighbouring countries: the Americans are a foreign occupation army in Afghanistan. The Pakistan army, though many would blame it for a number of sins, isn’t a foreign occupier in Pakistan. The ISAF forces have tried their level best to rout out the insurgency in southern Afghanistan. The Pakistan army’s efforts have been accused of being half-hearted; ill-thought out treaties that serve to appease the militants and give them time to regroup have been the modus operendi since the Musharraf years.
But the most important difference between the two situations is political. Since there can’t be elections that will be respected and taken seriously by all who inhabit Afghanistan, the argument that the Taliban have the support of the Pushtuns of southern Afghanistan cannot be disproved (or, yes, proved.) Across the Durand in Pakistan, however, the Pushtuns overwhelmingly voted for the ANP, followed by the PPP, the country’s two most secular political parties. The moral argument for reaching out to unrepresentative forces of obscurantism is dicey.
Even if Mr Khan were to actually be voted into power, the idea of appeasing the Taliban in Pakistan in problematic. Unlike the Baloch nationalists, who are demanding their just and due share, we have a zero-sum game in our conflict with the Taliban. An agreement with them will be a gift that keeps on taking.
