TTP not interested in ‘dialogue and peace’
Statements from responsible government quarters had created a perception that backdoor contacts with the Pakistani Taliban had led to improvement in the security situation. The perception was shattered on Sunday when Ansarul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on a military convoy in North Waziristan, killing nine and injuring as many. The spokesperson of the militants has claimed that the attack was carried out to avenge Saturday’s drone strike. He warned that his group would continue to launch such attacks in retaliation for drone strikes. The TTP components had taken recourse to this crooked logic earlier also when the TTP deputy chief Waliur Rehman was killed in a drone attack. The TTP has thus given two choices to the government: either shoot down the drones or be prepared for terrorist attacks. Pakistan is not in a position to challenge the US military might by shooting down the drones. The country already has enough enemies to add the superpower also in the list. It suits the TTP however to turn Pakistan into another US target: the greater the instability in the country the greater the chance for the militants to thrive. What the country badly needs is peace and stability. It has therefore to deal with the drone issue through talks and by taking the issue to international forums instead of taking recourse to irresponsible adventurism.
What one fails to understand is Ch Nisar’s expression of displeasure with the media for reporting what his colleagues had revealed about the government’s talks with the Pakistani Taliban. The JUI-F chief, who is now a part of the ruling coalition, told the media that a formula had been chalked out for holding formal talks with the Taliban within a month. This was followed by a statement from the information minister maintaining, “Maulana Sahib is a responsible person and whatever he said is correct.” The minister also confirmed: “Unofficial talks between the government side and Taliban are in progress.” And further, the government was exploring all options to restore lasting peace in the country and was in contact with the Taliban at different levels. Ch Nisar has advised the media to be careful while reporting on sensitive issues relating to terrorism. According to him the media should first confirm a report on the sensitive issue with the interior ministry before publishing or broadcasting it.
For the media any minister as good a source as another, and when a cabinet member speaks about something of public import, it is the media’s duty to report it. The independent media is not a department of the government and is therefore not expected to seek the clarification of what one minister says from another. The best way for the interior minister is to put an embargo on his colleagues in the cabinet to clear it with him before speaking to the media on internal security. Meanwhile, Ch Nisar’s claim, “the TTP too has opened the door for dialogue and peace”, is negated by the unprovoked attack on the military convoy.
