The notion that elected officials will have some control over the peace negotiations with the TTP, who have been outlawed, should help lessen the secrecy surrounding the negotiations.
The Afghan Taliban had been acting as facilitators while the security establishment had been in charge of the endeavor since last year, but there had been mounting calls for more civilian participation, particularly from the PPP.
Under the auspices of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, a lengthy session was convened in Islamabad on Tuesday to educate parliamentarians and other civil stakeholders about the peace process. A parliamentary oversight committee was established to keep an eye on the negotiations, and it was decided that Pakistan’s “red lines” would be the disarmament of the TTP, respect for the Constitution, and the former Fata’s merger with KP. The talks were generally agreed to continue, despite PTM leader and MNA Mohsin Dawar allegedly being against them.
While involving parliament is definitely a step forward, much still remains unknown and unanswered about any potential peace deal with the TTP.
For instance, will the militant group, known for savage violence and waging war on Pakistan, really change its bloodthirsty ways and accept the rule of law? Moreover, the TTP is an umbrella group of several militant factions.
What assurance is there that splinter groups won’t form and carry on the violent “fight” if the outfit’s leadership accedes to the state’s demands? Furthermore, according to reports, the TTP is asking for “compensation” for the “damage” it has sustained. If anything, the extremists need to pay for the over 70,000 military and civilian deaths they caused in Pakistan through vicious terrorist strikes. For low-level fighters, perhaps the militants’ demand for amnesty should be considered; but, those guilty for the APS massacre and other crimes must be brought to justice.
As it continues to keep tabs on the peace process, the parliamentary committee needs to take these things into account.
While the state, especially the security establishment, is eager to engage in talks with the TTP, this same desire is absent when it comes to the PTM, a nonviolent movement for civil and political rights.
The state shouldn’t approach negotiations with terrorists from a position of weakness, to put it simply. The outcome of previous, failed peace talks with the insurgents must be kept in mind by the negotiators. Simply put, it is exceedingly challenging to trust the TTP.
One issue apparently brought up during Tuesday’s meeting was that, should negotiations go through, the group might work with IS-Khorasan to attack Pakistan. If this assessment is accurate, the administration has even more reason to be sceptical of the TTP since the militants might exploit a peace agreement as a ploy to expand their network and wreak more destruction.
Mahnur is MS(development Studies)Student at NUST University, completed BS Hons in Eng Literature. Content Writer, Policy analyst, Climate Change specialist, Teacher, HR Recruiter.
