Peace Talks with the Militants

[UmarJustice]

Peace talks: ANP wants militants to form ‘empowered’ delegation

The ruling Awami National Party (ANP) on Saturday sent out a message asking militants to constitute an ‘empowered’ team for holding talks with a panel of political parties.

“For any talks to be carried out, they (militants) ought to constitute an empowered team,” provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told participants of a gathering convened at Nishtar Hall to observe the chehlum of slain minster Bashir Ahmad Bilour, who was targeted in a suicide attack on December 22, 2012.

ANP is currently trying to muster support for an all parties conference (APC) to discuss strategies to combat militancy and negotiate with militants. Hussain, however, said militants must have a say in their respective groups for the talks to be successful.

He reiterated his party would again reach out to those who had not “fully” responded to earlier invitations. While Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have publicly turned down the offer, Hussain said the invitations had been accepted by some parties and others had not yet submitted a “full reply”. He, however, chose not to single any party out. “Those who have faith should join us for the APC.”

The slain minister’s brother, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour delivered an emotionally charged speech.

“Militants claim they are standing up for Islam. Is Islam not followed in North Waziristan, Bajaur, Swat and Tirah?” questioned the railways minister referring to militant onslaughts in the area. “I ask the Taliban to settle for talks. We will forgive the blood of our Pashtun children, if no more blood is shed.”

About the proposed APC, Ghulam Bilour said: “We have extended the invitation not just for ourselves, but for the whole nation, to get rid of the scourge of terrorism.”

“We will avenge the death of Bashir Bilour by winning the upcoming general elections,” he said, as party activists punctuated his speech with charged slogans.

“People cannot be hoodwinked by slogans to vote for the Book (Holy Quran) anymore,” added Bashir in an apparent jibe directed towards the ruling era of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal in K-P. “Today, these well-to-do Mullahs can be seen moving around in Land Cruisers, but they do not raise their voice against the killing of innocent people.”

The late minister’s son, Barrister Haroon Bilour vowed to fight the prevailing conditions with courage and to stand by the party through all tribulations.

Banners honouring Bashir Ahmad Bilour adorned the walls of the hall. The senior minister, who was also the parliamentary leader in the K-P Assembly, was known for his vocal stance against militants. He was said to be the first to condemn terror acts and assure victims of counteraction. Party stalwarts, including Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Senator Zahid Khan, Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel and K-P Assembly Speaker Kiramatullah Chagharmati along with others were also present.

 

[RazorMC]

Peace talks will hardly work unless the people in those areas see the federal and provincial government as the real authority.

These talks will have to be followed by development work in outlying areas where people can start to see a better future for themselves and their children.

Otherwise these elements will just use the time to rearm and regroup.

 

[UmarJustice]

Pakistani Taliban express conditional willingness to hold talks
PESHAWAR: The spokesman for the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Ehsanullah Ehsan has said that the organisation was willing to hold talks with the government and security forces provided that Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, chief of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman or Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Ameer Syed Munawar Hasan were guarantors for the talks , DawnNews repored on Sunday.

The TTP spokesman said in a video interview received by Dawn.com that in order to hold talks the organisation wanted Maulvi Omar, TTP’s Swat leader Muslim Khan and other leaders and commanders who are in government custody to be freed adding that Maulvi Omar and Muslim Khan, would lead the Taliban delegation to hold the talks.

Ehsan further said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was responsible for the killings of religious scholars in Karachi warning that the killers would be sternly dealt with.

Pakistani Taliban express conditional willingness to hold talks | Pakistan | DAWN.COM

 

[Saraali]

Peace MUST be given a chance. We should accept TTP demands, establish peace and then strategically locate and kill their leaders

Peace MUST be given a chance. We should accept TTP demands, establish peace and then strategically locate and kill their leaders

 

[Devil Soul]

Peace talks: TTP wants Nawaz to act as guarantor – The Express Tribune

 

[UmarJustice]

Talks with Taliban: JI will only be guarantor for a ‘strong’ govt

The Jamaat-e-Islami has not completely detached itself from negotiating with the Taliban as it said on Tuesday that it would be part of peace talks but only on behalf of a credible and trustworthy government.

On Sunday, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had signalled its willingness to enter peace negotiations with the government if three senior politicians – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharf, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam head Fazlur Rehman and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Syed Munawwar Hasan – would act as guarantors
JI’s Liaquat Baloch has now said, however, that his party would not be a guarantor for the Taliban on behalf of the President Zardari-led government. “We can find a solution to the problem through dialogue, which can only be administered through a strong and sovereign government,” Baloch said.
For its part, the PML-N has put the matter on hold till Nawaz returns. “We want to bring a peaceful end to this violence through dialogue,” said PML-N spokesperson Mushahidullah Khan. “But we still need to work out how and where the negotiations should be held.”
Security analysts
Security analysts are, on the other hand, not too hopeful about the negotiation.
Commenting on the conditions put forward by the TTP, Lt (retd) Talat Masood said that most of the demands were unacceptable. He felt that Taliban could use the situation to their advantage by regrouping and strengthening their position.

In fact, the Taliban seemed confident with the recent ‘successful’ attacks on security forces and civilians. “It seems that the Taliban want to take advantage of the current political situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan,” he said. “They want to use the Afghanistan negotiations and the upcoming elections in Pakistan to their advantage.”
He added that even if the government agreed to negotiate it had no guarantee since there are a number of militant groups who are not under a single chain of command.
All parties conference
The Awami National Party (ANP) has decided to hold an all parties conference to come up with a strategy to counter terrorism in order to welcome the Taliban’s move for peace talks with the government.
Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said that the Taliban’s offer was positive as issues could only be solved through negotiations.The ANP has sent invitations to different parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and PML-N. Bilour added, however, that the PML-N chief has declined the invitation to negotiate with the parties as part of an alliance with the government.

Talks with Taliban: JI will only be guarantor for a

 

[UmarJustice]

Afghan peace talks: Govt distances itself from Fazl’s move

Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday distanced the government from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s participation in the Afghan peace talks in Doha, Qatar.

Talking to reporters at the Lahore airport, Malik said the JUI-F chief was no longer an ally of the Pakistan Peoples Party government and was taking part in the Doha talks ‘in his personal capacity’.
“Fazlur Rehman is the head of an independent party… the government does not have any business in his negotiations with the [Afghan] Taliban or any other stakeholder.”
Meanwhile, talking about Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) offer of peace talks, Malik said the government would contemplate the offer if the banned outfit gave up violence.
“Whenever TTP feels weak, they offer to negotiate… they are not serious about peace talks,” he said, adding that even the opposition leaders TTP had asked to act as guarantors have given the government no surety.
Malik suggested an all parties conference for devising a strategy on dealing with TTP, either through negotiations or other means.
While reaffirming the government’s resolve to hold general elections on time, the Interior Minister warned that the ministry expected severe terrorist threats during polls and maintained that it might end up delaying them.
Talking about Minhajul Quran International chief Tahirul Qadri, Malik claimed he was being supported by elements who wanted to delay the elections. He said that while the Supreme Court will hear Qadri’s petition today (Monday) and decide whether to issue an interim order or reject it, the media should avoid creating doubts about the election schedule.
Afghan peace talks: Govt distances itself from Fazl