TTP and its apologists

Befooled by the mirage of peace

Government leaders have for a long time danced to the tune set by the TTP. For every murderous attack by the network, none blamed the organisation by name. The terrorists may be against the government, claimed Ch Nisar, but they are not against the state. He forgot that the TTP killed 50,000 innocent Pakistanis and thousands of soldiers. It attacked military installations and destroyed highly valuable assets. The militants deepened the sectarian divide by targeting people belonging to sects other than their own. They denied the people playing fields and forced the country to host cricket teams from other countries abroad. Ch Nisar maintained all along that terrorist acts were a reaction to drone attacks, thus putting all the blame on the US. No drone attack has taken place since December yet scores of terrorist attacks have been conducted on polio workers, security personnel and tribesmen loyal to the state. The TTP decapitated 23 FC personnel held in captivity, desecrated their bodies and put up the video on the net. In another attack inside Islamabad court premises terrorists killed 11 including a judge.

The TTP is ordering the government about, changing directions of the game every now and then. When it announced a ceasefire, the apologists applauded, forgetting that there was little respite to their attacks. These were being conducted by groups who are opposed to talks, they maintained. KP information minister was all in praise for the ‘generosity’ shown by the TTP. When the TTP offered talks, the apologists fell for them castigating the critics for their negative thinking.

The TTP has now delivered a snub to all those who had pinned hopes on peace through talks. A report in the media regarding the talks hitting deadlock were pooh-poohed by the talks lobby. Samiul Haq dismissed the speculation that peace talks were deadlocked, saying negotiations had made steady progress. Even when the TTP demanded the release of its prisoners and withdrawal of the army from parts of South Waziristan as preconditions for the extension of ceasefire, the lobby insisted TTP had attached no conditions. Samiul Haq maintained firmly that the ceasefire would hold beyond March 31.

The announcement by the TTP exposes the hollowness of claims by its apologists. The TTP has also maintained that it was a monolith with none daring to challenge the amir. Now one section in the network wants talks to continue while the other has threatened that attacks would begin again in Pakistan in which common people would suffer. Instead of holding talks while the TTP is pointing a gun, government should prepare to take on the terrorists. Any terrorist attack irrespective of whether it is on the civilians or law enforcement personnel must be reciprocated by exemplary punishment inflicted on terrorist pockets and strongholds.