APC concludes: Peace through talks, drone strikes illegal
Some of the easier problems were resolved before the APC started. A meeting was arranged between Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif and DG ISI to placate the PTI chief. Amin Fahim replaced Khurshid Shah as PPP representative in the meeting. There were however fears that more troublesome issues might pop up later despite Nawaz Sharif’s plea to political leaders to shun politicking on issues of national importance. The meeting however ended without fireworks.
Nawaz Sharif set the tone in his initial remarks maintaining that dialogue would be preferred over use of force though the final decision will be taken by the national leadership. If Pervaiz Rashid is to be believed, the only option that came under discussion was talks. Not that all participants were convinced of the utility of talks. Even those who thought the exercise was futile wanted to give Nawaz Sharif a chance to do the Houdini act. General Ashfaq Kayani categorically stated that the country had no agreement with the US to allow drone strikes inside Pakistan’s territory. There was unanimity over the attacks violating Pakistan’s sovereignty. The participants were however realistic enough to call for taking the matter to the UN instead of demanding that the pilotless planes be shot down. The APC unanimously agreed to pursue negotiations with the militants as their first option to counter terrorism. It was decided to call another APC to resolve the issues facing the terror-stricken Balochistan.
The PML-N government has taken over a big responsibility. It has not only to bring the Pakistani Taliban to the negotiating table but also persuade them to accept and abide by the constitution, stop terrorist attacks on the general public, minority sects and law enforcement agencies. It is significant that the latest terrorist attack targeted the DPO’s office in Kohat on the day the APC was holding its session, killing at least two policemen and injuring several persons. Further, the government has to tell the militant groups that Pakistan being a responsible country cannot allow its soil to be used against other countries and they have to cease such attacks. What adds to the government’s difficulties is that the TTP is not a single party but a loose alliance of several militant groups, some with their own Shuras as the chief of Punjabi Taliban clarified last week. While the TTP has initially welcomed the offer for talks, its spokesman has made it clear that the APC would not affect its agenda and a detailed reaction would be conveyed after the TTP Shura has discussed the move.
Whatever agreement is brokered with the extremist groups must be open and transparent. Secret deals brokered by the establishment in the past have given birth to doubts, suspicions and fears at home while providing opportunity to media and politicians in the West to dub Pakistan as the most dangerous country on earth, Liam Fox being the latest to do so.
