No use of talks with TTP

If they can’t keep their end of bargain, no use agreeing to it in the first place

The terrorists are on the offensive. Routed in Swat in 2009 and currently living in Afghanistan, Fazlullah continues to dream about a comeback, trying meanwhile to set up new sleeper cells and safe houses for storing caches of arms in Swat. He has directed his followers to attack law enforcement agencies whenever they find an opportunity. On Sunday, they carried out an IED attack wounding two soldiers. In the subsequent search operation the army succeeded in capturing the attackers while killing seven. Early this month terrorists killed a pro-government tribal chief in North Waziristan. On Wednesday, they killed nine troops with IED blasts in the Agency. In the latest attack in Khyber Agency the Taliban killed two members of a pro-government tribal militia. They also continue to target the NATO supplies. What is the use of talks with the TTP when hostile activities by the militants continue?

The TTP declined to reciprocate the government’s gesture of freeing some of those arrested in tribal area. It also refused to extend the ceasefire. Nawaz Sharif however is still reluctant to call off the talks. Speaking to BBC Urdu in London early this week he said he was hopeful of bringing “peace without any further bloodshed”. A similar attitude charcterises Punjab administration which is unwilling to order crackdown against TTP groups operating in Punjab. The attitude is causing grave problems.

The conciliatory attitude demoralises the police which is unsure of how to deal with the militants. When the government prefers dialogue with criminals, the law enforcers are bound to hesitate to take action against them. The prosecution prepares weak cases that allow criminals to escape justice. The conciliatory attitude also encourages extremists. On Wednesday, they killed a prominent lawyer in Multan who was defending a university teacher accused of blasphemy. Incidents of the sort are bound to increase with damaging consequences for society.

The government’s placatory attitude is likely to cause friction with the army. The PML-N leaders are never tired of claiming that they are on the same page with the army. There are however signals that show the army leadership is unhappy with the stance. In the latest meeting with the prime minister, Gen Raheel Sharif is said to have reiterated concerns about the ongoing Taliban attacks on the army while the government is trying to engage the TTP. It is time the government orders an operation clean up in the tribal areas. The Afghan Taliban have announced the beginning of their final “Spring offensive” against the foreign troops from this week. As NATO troops and Afghan Army fight the Taliban, Pakistan Army too should cleanse tribal areas, particularly the two Waziristan Agencies from the militants. What is more it should undertake an indiscriminate action against all types of Taliban.