Taliban set terms to ceasefire

The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – in a letter to an anchor of a private TV channel – has made a conditional ceasefire offer to the government.
The letter envisages an end to Pakistan’s participation in the Afghan war and the reshaping of the constitution and foreign policy according to the holy Quran and Sunnah. The letter was sent by Punjab TTP chief Asmatullah Muawiya and was endorsed by TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan in a telephonic call from an unidentified place.
The letter calls for repeal of all laws which are repugnant to Islam and says the constitution should be re-written in the light of the holy Quran and Sunnah.
Ehsan in his telephonic message said the letter had the full backing of the TTP and it should be considered as their stance.
The letter reads further the TTP was dragged into a war with Pakistan from Afghanistan and Kashmir fronts and the government and the army were responsible for this.
The war with the TTP was started by the army and they are only defending themselves which is their religious right, the TTP letter reads.
It reads further any religious scholar would confirm that the defence of dignity, self-respect, life, property and faith was the right of every Muslim and fighting for this right is called Jihad.
The TTP spokesman said the Pakistan Army should become a “pure Islamic army” and not act as a mercenary for America.
“Instead of taking out guns against Muslims (Ahle Islam), the Pakistan Army should prepare to take revenge for the 1971 war (with India). This will also add the potential of Kashmiri mujahideen to our forces,” the TTP said.
The TTP letter revealed that it was not targeting the Jamaat-e-Islami and JUI-Fazl, but these parties should also revise their positions and statements.
It said the TTP had taken a “quiet approach” towards the PML-N and Tehreek-e-Insaf, but the ANP had sold itself for the glitter of American dollars. The MQM, the letter claimed, had also adopted a similar position.
“If the ANP changes its policies and apologises for its past mistakes, the TTP is prepared to forgive them,” the TTP statement said.
The letter read Pakistan was their country and “we love its streets and even plains and deserts but we cannot sacrifice our faith for this love”.
The TTP letter read further any fresh operation in North Waziristan would be a failure as America with its 42 allies has not been able to achieve any success.
“If we are attacked even those who are now away from the fighting will take up arms and many more fronts will open,” the TTP said. The TTP said now the government should decide what it wanted to do.