Pakistan or Taliban

Again negotiations have been secretly started with Taliban and pleaded forcefully by the NATO countries in particular by the US leadership, as well as by some of the political leaders and intellectuals in Pakistan. It is surprising that all these advocates of negotiations either deliberately or instinctively not recall the fact that this exercise was undertaken repeatedly on the pretext of “National  Interest” by General Pervez Musharraf, who had signed about five or six agreements with various groups of Taliban’s and the extremist religious terrorists forces such as “Fazal Ullah”, during his long autocratic rule.

 It would not be sensible now to ignore the cost of the agreements signed by Pervez Musharraf and even by the present elected Government in May 2008, which were totally in favor of Taliban. The disastrous impact of all these agreements with Taliban was rise and rise of fanaticism, militancy and violence in urban cities of Pakistan.

The term “Taliban” being used here is inclusive of all their factions, groups of Al-Qaeda and all the extremists, militant religious or Jihadi forces under whatever name or banner. In my view they are all the same. They all indulge in terror campaign. They all have the common object of taking over state of Pakistan through terrorist activities. They all denounce other sects of Muslims as “Kafir, Wajibul Qatal”. Their different names with any prefix or suffix of Lashkar, Sipah, Jihadi or Tableeghi etc., do not matter.

Now that the same line of action is being followed again, the supporters of this suggestion must answer the most relevant questions.

First are Taliban willing to hold negotiations?

Secondly, why none of the people who support negotiations with Taliban (PTI being the front runner) ever demands end of terrorist activities in Pakistan by Taliban as a condition precedent to talks?

Thirdly, what would be the agenda of negotiations? Will the Taliban respect all other sects of Muslims and let them to freely practice all their spiritual rites and ceremonies without being branded as “Kafir” or “Wajibul Qatal”.

Taliban or even people supporting dialogue with them won’t be able to give answers in assenting to these questions. Then the question arises that on what basis the negotiations are expected to be concluded? Are the advocates of this suggestion on the other hand willing to adopt the peculiar religious believes, policies, norms and practices of Taliban which were in vogue under the rule of Mullah Omer?

There are no two opinions that Pakistan is at war with Taliban from within. The worst and longest war causing unparalleled and inestimable damage in Pakistan. Never before our law enforcement agencies particularly our arm forces, paramilitary forces, police etc, had to give up thousands of the lives of their officers and soldiers at the hand of Taliban. Never before so many thousands of innocent citizens became victim of the attacks unleashed by Taliban. Never before sense of insecurity of the life and property of the citizen as well as of the integrity of our country loomed so large. Never before Pakistan suffered such immense destruction of our economy, political, social, cultural life and sports.

I have no doubt about the ability, competence and strength of our armed forces to confront, defeat and eliminate all kinds of terrorists, (ethnic or sectarian) and all groups of Taliban’s or Jihadists, from the soil of Pakistan. Our armed forces do not lack the competence, weapons and equipment of surveillance to track down and destroy the supply line and strength of these enemies within Pakistan. It is for this confidence in our armed forces that I am unable to find any convincing reason for this unending war from within.

Hence, we have no option but to clean Pakistan of all the Taliban groups, extremist doctrinaire religious forces and all kinds of terrorists, so that Pakistan can be made a non violent, peaceful, moderate, tolerant, progressive and modern state.

*Article is synopsis of different reports published on given topic