Pakistani newly elected leadership led by Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League in a first ever display of unity with Imran Khan's party which is about to make provincial government in the Taliban home ground province of Khybar Pakhtonkhwa asked the so called "father of Talibans", Maulana Sami Ul Haq to bring his volatile children to table for peace talks with the upcoming government. The move was widely expected as both these parties wooed Talibans with the promises such as these proposed talks, an end to US drone attacks in tribal areas and related anti American balderdash. These moves of appeasement, made Talibans not target these parties in otherwise a bloody elections where they openly attacked and successfully marginalized the political campaigns of parties with moderate and liberal agendas in recent Elections 2013 held in the month of May. The Pakistani population which is pragmatic at large in their political manifestos ignored the said attacks on the liberal parties largely owing to the latter's rampant corruption in power and inability to control the sinking economy of the country.
In his speech on 30 April 2013, at the "Day of the Martyrs", essentially celebrated as an event glorifying the sacrifices of Pakistani Armed Forces in the War Against Terror, read Talibans at Pakistan, General Ashfaq Kayani, the all powerful Chief of Army Staff minced no words while he said, I quote :
"Let their be no doubt, that this war we are fighting is a war for the existence, survival and defense of Pakistan where we must rest the argument as to, by whom and why we got involved in this war. For now, as soldiers we have to do what it takes to win this war, and repay the debt of the martyrs blood spilled by the enemies of the state in this war by factors within or foreign"
Pakistan Armed forces/Police have lost thousands of men in this "war within" and many more became permanently disabled by this war. The onus lies upon the military leadership to make meaning out of this colossal sacrifice of young blood spilled which included scions of powerful military families of Pakistan as well. Pakistani Military is apprehensive of any offer of peace talks to Talibans by the political leadership without the latter first laying down their arms. As in the past all such peace talks and resultant cease fire only proved to be a precious breathing moment for Talibans to regroup and refit their fighting machinery. These apprehensions aside, however, the military believe the political option as the permanent solution to the end of this conflict. But for that they require solid guarantees from the Talibans like demilitarization before prospects of talks. Talibans on the other hand are not so eager to oblige........... General Kayani in his call on to the Nawaz Sharif at Lahore last week conveyed these feelings of the military brass to the incoming Prime Minister beside other issues in as democratic a manner as Pakistani democracy in-transition backed by the military establishment for the first time in history can take it.
At the global scenario, US gave a mixed message to the Pakistanis by reportedly killing Wali Ur Rehman, the second in command of Pakistani Talibans in the first drone strike after Elections at Pakistan. The message is mixed as Pakistani Talibans though, ideological twins of Afghan Talibans are anti Pakistani state and military unlike their Afghan cousins who are discreetly supported by the Pakistani Intelligence. The move of Wali Ur Rehman killing is being taken as an endorsement of the stance of Pakistan Army Chief on this conflict and on the peace talks offer to Talibans by the newly elected political leadership of the country. Talks without comprehensive cease fire like that by IRA at the UK will be worthless in Pakistani military's point of view as proven in the past.
Maulana Sami Ul Haq from the outset is seeking the Pakistan Army's complete confidence and participation for the proposed talks by the newly elected civilian leadership. Military's support and willingness to get on board these peace talks are critical for any viable outcome from these negotiations whereas the former minced no words in setting their preconditions. Talibans are as said earlier, unlikely to accept these conditions. The Pakistani Military can not opt for an option like Sri Lankan Army war against the Tamils where they latter had a sea at their backs, hence faced total destruction. In the case of Pakistan, every time the Pakistani military pushed the Talibans in an offensive the latter escapes into Afghanistan from where they keep on operating without any potent hindrance. Hence the political solution has to take effect sooner or latter, the Pakistani Military believe. Pakistani population, in their urge for peace also desires the same. It's only a matter of time and nerves for which soever the side to give up their preconditions for coming to table talks. Pakistani Political leadership at best can facilitate this process in the said direction. Pakistan would certainly like to end this conflict in the Ireland case scenario rather than the Sri Lankan massacre of the Tamils.
The process which lays ahead is a complex, nerve wrecking game of deceit and confidence both, in which the foremost prerequisites are getting all the stake holders on board. Peace can be achieved but accepting the ground realities by both the essential belligerents, i-e, Pakistan Military and Talibans. Talibans must accept to respect the writ of Pakistani state and it's Military's stance which neither can nor will ever allow the nuclear armed state to fall hostage to them or any one else. The military establishment of Pakistan needs to realize that the inhabitants of the semi autonomous tribal areas of Pakistan are ferociously independent as evident from the history. From the days much before those of the British Raj they remained semi autonomous and must be allowed to remain so within the overall precedent paradigm of Pakistani State. Also needs to be realized the hard fact that the age old tribal control system of FCR law has been systematically destroyed beyond repair at the tribal belt of Pakistan along with the traditional Maliks/Political Agent governance mechanism which lost it's nuisance all together.
The establishment of Islamic Sharia Law as practiced by Federal Sharia Courts of Paksitan under a council of religious scholars appointed by the "Jirga" comprising of Tribal s and Pakistani government representatives at the Tribal belt is the only answer/permanent solution to curtail the lawlessness, terrorism and related issues at the tribal areas which would be acceptable to all parties......................................Whether the Pakistanis like it or not, as and when begins this labyrinthine procedure of peace talks, the complete confidence and background participation of USA as a stake holder will be the most crucial factor for the success or failure of this exercise.
In his speech on 30 April 2013, at the "Day of the Martyrs", essentially celebrated as an event glorifying the sacrifices of Pakistani Armed Forces in the War Against Terror, read Talibans at Pakistan, General Ashfaq Kayani, the all powerful Chief of Army Staff minced no words while he said, I quote :
"Let their be no doubt, that this war we are fighting is a war for the existence, survival and defense of Pakistan where we must rest the argument as to, by whom and why we got involved in this war. For now, as soldiers we have to do what it takes to win this war, and repay the debt of the martyrs blood spilled by the enemies of the state in this war by factors within or foreign"
Pakistan Armed forces/Police have lost thousands of men in this "war within" and many more became permanently disabled by this war. The onus lies upon the military leadership to make meaning out of this colossal sacrifice of young blood spilled which included scions of powerful military families of Pakistan as well. Pakistani Military is apprehensive of any offer of peace talks to Talibans by the political leadership without the latter first laying down their arms. As in the past all such peace talks and resultant cease fire only proved to be a precious breathing moment for Talibans to regroup and refit their fighting machinery. These apprehensions aside, however, the military believe the political option as the permanent solution to the end of this conflict. But for that they require solid guarantees from the Talibans like demilitarization before prospects of talks. Talibans on the other hand are not so eager to oblige........... General Kayani in his call on to the Nawaz Sharif at Lahore last week conveyed these feelings of the military brass to the incoming Prime Minister beside other issues in as democratic a manner as Pakistani democracy in-transition backed by the military establishment for the first time in history can take it.
At the global scenario, US gave a mixed message to the Pakistanis by reportedly killing Wali Ur Rehman, the second in command of Pakistani Talibans in the first drone strike after Elections at Pakistan. The message is mixed as Pakistani Talibans though, ideological twins of Afghan Talibans are anti Pakistani state and military unlike their Afghan cousins who are discreetly supported by the Pakistani Intelligence. The move of Wali Ur Rehman killing is being taken as an endorsement of the stance of Pakistan Army Chief on this conflict and on the peace talks offer to Talibans by the newly elected political leadership of the country. Talks without comprehensive cease fire like that by IRA at the UK will be worthless in Pakistani military's point of view as proven in the past.
Maulana Sami Ul Haq from the outset is seeking the Pakistan Army's complete confidence and participation for the proposed talks by the newly elected civilian leadership. Military's support and willingness to get on board these peace talks are critical for any viable outcome from these negotiations whereas the former minced no words in setting their preconditions. Talibans are as said earlier, unlikely to accept these conditions. The Pakistani Military can not opt for an option like Sri Lankan Army war against the Tamils where they latter had a sea at their backs, hence faced total destruction. In the case of Pakistan, every time the Pakistani military pushed the Talibans in an offensive the latter escapes into Afghanistan from where they keep on operating without any potent hindrance. Hence the political solution has to take effect sooner or latter, the Pakistani Military believe. Pakistani population, in their urge for peace also desires the same. It's only a matter of time and nerves for which soever the side to give up their preconditions for coming to table talks. Pakistani Political leadership at best can facilitate this process in the said direction. Pakistan would certainly like to end this conflict in the Ireland case scenario rather than the Sri Lankan massacre of the Tamils.
The process which lays ahead is a complex, nerve wrecking game of deceit and confidence both, in which the foremost prerequisites are getting all the stake holders on board. Peace can be achieved but accepting the ground realities by both the essential belligerents, i-e, Pakistan Military and Talibans. Talibans must accept to respect the writ of Pakistani state and it's Military's stance which neither can nor will ever allow the nuclear armed state to fall hostage to them or any one else. The military establishment of Pakistan needs to realize that the inhabitants of the semi autonomous tribal areas of Pakistan are ferociously independent as evident from the history. From the days much before those of the British Raj they remained semi autonomous and must be allowed to remain so within the overall precedent paradigm of Pakistani State. Also needs to be realized the hard fact that the age old tribal control system of FCR law has been systematically destroyed beyond repair at the tribal belt of Pakistan along with the traditional Maliks/Political Agent governance mechanism which lost it's nuisance all together.
The establishment of Islamic Sharia Law as practiced by Federal Sharia Courts of Paksitan under a council of religious scholars appointed by the "Jirga" comprising of Tribal s and Pakistani government representatives at the Tribal belt is the only answer/permanent solution to curtail the lawlessness, terrorism and related issues at the tribal areas which would be acceptable to all parties......................................Whether the Pakistanis like it or not, as and when begins this labyrinthine procedure of peace talks, the complete confidence and background participation of USA as a stake holder will be the most crucial factor for the success or failure of this exercise.
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