The rising uncertainty in Pakistan is casting serious doubts on its sovereignty, writ of the state and its ability to deal with the issues. On Sunday, September 30, 2013 another blast in Peshawar’s market killed more than 45 and injured over 120 people. This time Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) did not claim any responsibility for this attack but the previous attack on a church that killed over 75 people and injured hundreds, TTP did claim responsibility along with pressuring the government to agree to their demands by freeing their militant prisoners and pulling out forces from North-Waziristan. It’s worth mentioning that the captured militants are over three thousand and if released can create havoc in the country. Also in early September, Taliban’s killed a Major General and a Lt. Colonel in a roadside bomb attack.
The most important thing to be noted is that despite such large scale Massacre in all major cities of Pakistan the government is still willing to hold talks with TTP for a peace accord and has partially agreed to pull out forces from North-Waziristan. The Pak Army, however, is unwilling to hold talks with the Taliban’s as there are local and foreign tribes in it and an accord with such militants won’t be feasible as every faction has their own demands.
The government has however offered unconditional talks with terrorists which is wrong as it must be known that TTP will agree for a peace accord only if their demands are met, which means greater power for them, as then they will establish their control in those areas, develop their infrastructure and have their own writ, where they’ll be able to do anything they feel like, thus abolishing the decades old Jirga system which will further deteriorate the system.
We must understand the point, if this peace accord comes to shape, either it will be writ of the state or it will be writ of Taliban’s, either it will be Supreme Court of Pakistan or it will be their Shariah Courts, either it will be Pak Army or it will be Taliban’s in power.
All the demands of Taliban’s compromise the national interest of the state and damage the two-nation theory which forms the base of Pakistan. It does not seem possible for them to stay in their limits; they’ll eventually come out and weaken the government wherever possible. The government i.e. center and the provincial are already unable to handle the situation, the army always steps in to aid the civilian administration but has paid a heavy price.
Keeping the previous peace accords in mind that proved futile, we must decide what we’re up to. Enough blood has been shed and we must put an end to this. Peace should be given a chance but not at the sake of national interest. It’s Pakistan first and everything comes after, its hoped that all the stake holders will put aside their grievances and biases and join hands for a better future. If we don’t deal with it now, this won’t stop and the result would be chaos.
SYED MUHAMMAD ABUBAKER,
Lahore, October 1.