Round The World
New Delhi, 26
February 2014
Pak-Taliban
Talks
WILL
BREAKDOWN ALTER POLICY?
By Prof.
Arvind Kumar
(Dept. of
Geopolitics & Intl Relations, Manipal Univ)
Pakistan recently initiated peace
talks with the Taliban largely to restore confidence and trust after the
realisation that Islamabad
has become the victim of its own State policy of sponsoring cross-border
terrorism. Additionally, it was to make an assessment about the mindset of Taliban
whether there can be a deal on peace building in the region. It was certain
that the inherent contradictions and ambiguity in the behavioural patterns of
both Pakistan and
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) will not lead to any serious and committed negotiations.
Moreover, the members of the
international community in general and India in particular have been
watching these developments cautiously. However, the evolving reality suggests
that there is a lack of seriousness and commitment on the part of Pakistan and the
TTP with regard to any type of convergence.
The desire for peace talks was
mainly shown from the Government of Pakistan. But, it did not augur well because
of the recent events which shaped their policies. The attack on the TTP
hideouts in Pakistan’s
north western region by Pakistani Army Helicopters signified the change of
stance. It may also have happened because of the breakdown in the peace
negotiations between the Taliban and the government.
The Pakistan Army seems to be
completely changing its position and its recent attack on TTP has raised a
number of pertinent questions, including whether the Pakistani Army can
significantly contribute to the growth of peace and stability, both within Pakistan and the South Asia
region itself. It must be reiterated here that the Pakistani Army had always
been tacitly working with these groups. There is a growing debate among members
of strategic and academic community whether the Pakistani Army will dismantle
the base of the Taliban.
Further, the debate on the role of
Taliban in the foreseeable future has gained momentum mainly because of the planned
US
troops’ withdrawal by December 2014. The emerging geopolitical environment will
very much depend on what role the Taliban will have and how peace and stability
will be achieved.
The government of Pakistan and
the banned Taliban established a committee formally to discuss and deliberate
on the modalities for peace. Such a committee had a mandate but unfortunately
it could not find resonance with its own subsets. However, the right wing
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F has distanced itself from participating in the
negotiations and the peace process.
The four-member committee appointed
by the government comprises senior journalists Irfan Siddiqui and Rahimullah
Yusuf Zai, former ISI official, Major Mohammad Amir, former Ambassador Rustam
Shah Mohmand, with the objective being to bring the perspective from Pakistani
media, diplomatic community and intelligence agencies. Hence, the constituent
of the committee was mainly to elicit the views on the ongoing challenges
emanating from Taliban and then form a common ground for a solution to end
terrorism. It was unfortunate that the dialogue broke down and that the
situation is apparently very precarious.
The expectation of the international
community in general and Pakistan
in particular from such a committee from both sides (the government of Pakistan and
TTP) was to move forward in a positive direction and intensify the overall
peace process. However, the inherent contradiction in Pakistan’s
regime has always been problematic because the government supported the cause
of Taliban in different phases of peace and conflict in the Indian
subcontinent.
Pakistan has adopted cross-border
terrorism as an element in its foreign policy, saw how Taliban flourishes and
fulfils these objectives and realize the larger fundamental goals of the
country. Indeed, Taliban’s evolution and its growing tentacles, as a force to
reckon with has thrown open a number of challenges to both regional peace and
stability. Over the years Pakistan
has seen growth of madrasaas and a number of other Islamic colleges, which are
run by fundamentalist forces, more particularly the Jamiat-e-Ulema.
Undeniably, the challenges to Pakistan’s
internal peace and stability have grown because of the proliferation of various
recruitment and fund raising centres. It is obvious that the functioning of
Taliban has gone much beyond the expectations of Pakistan’s government. Last week’s
execution of 23 prisoners of war by the TTP symbolises strengthening of the jihadist
thinking and culture. In response to this, the combat jets and Army Helicopters
have bombed Jihadist held region in North Waziristan.
The current situation has embroiled into a dilemma of whether there will be any
solution or will Pakistan
further move towards complex challenges and disintegration.
The understanding on Taliban’s
overall functioning and its various other groupings seems to be limited from India’s point
of view. There will always remain a challenge to find out the ways and means by
which certain resolution to the existing irritants can be explored.
Dealing with TTP remains a complex
challenge despite the fact that the United States
helped it in establishing its headquarters in Doha. The option of a full-scale military
offensive against TTP got reflected in the statement made by the head of Pakistan’s Army
General Raheel Sharif, when he categorically made it clear that they are ready
to face any type of new and complex situation.
The need of the hour is to change
the stance, mindsets, and adamant positions among a number of governmental
institutions in Pakistan
including the intelligence agencies. These agencies require evolving an understanding
about Taliban, mainly dictated by their behavioural patterns. All these years, Pakistan has kept
treating Taliban as their strategic assets. Such thinking requires a quantum
shift in the approaches for betterment of the State.
The growing Pakistani Army resolve
to deal with these uncertain situations raises an important point whether Islamabad will experience
a drastic change in its policy and the Army will take a pro-active stand. Will
Pakistani Army get the support of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in fighting
the Taliban, which it largely created and gave it the inherent strength? If the
Pakistani Army is aware about the hideouts of the TTP, then it would be easier
for it to crack down provided there is a will and support from every agency of
Pakistani regime.
It is high time that better sense
prevails amongst the Pakistan
establishment so that the South Asia region
ushers in peace and stability. The consequences of such action by Pakistani
Army will be always positive and appreciated by the region and the world. At
the same time, it certainly would be in the interest of Pakistan. The
time is ripe for such action. ---INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)
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