Islamabad: The government is reviewing its strategy vis-à-vis the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which abrogated an Afghan Taliban-brokered ceasefire with Islamabad in June.
Official sources told JEE News that Pakistan’s strategy would be “reviewed” following the TTP’s declaration earlier this week and the surge in terror attacks. In June, the TTP announced an indefinite ceasefire after a series of meetings between Pakistani representatives in Afghanistan and the militant outfit.
The talks were brokered by the Afghan Taliban government, which has been resisting pressure from Pakistan to crack down on the TTP and its affiliates operating out of the neighboring country. But with the change of command and the revival of the TTP, the government will discuss all options to tackle the militancy threat.
Since the new Army Chief, General Asim Munir, had headed both the Military Intelligence (MI) and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during his career, he understood the dynamics of the TTP and Afghanistan, according to observers.
As DG of ISI, General Asim spearheaded initial efforts aimed at facilitating direct talks between the US and the Afghan Taliban. Against this background, the Army Chief is likely to give important inputs to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government on the TTP and the policy review on Afghanistan.
A government official dealing with the issue told JEE News that Pakistan’s patience with the Afghan Taliban regime has run out as the TTP poses a cross-border threat.
On Tuesday, Minister of State for External Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar led a Pakistani delegation on a one-day visit to Kabul. In an official handout, Pakistan’s concern over cross-border terrorist attacks was not specifically mentioned.
But sources said it was one of the topics of discussion. Pakistan’s Special Envoy Muhammad Sadiq was part of this delegation, which means that the issue of TTP must have come up for discussion. According to sources, it is possible that the government may reconsider its strategy of holding direct talks with the TTP.
Earlier, sources said, the government did not favor a direct approach towards the TTP. Officials handling the matter in the Foreign Office believed that direct negotiations with the TTP was not a wise strategy. Ambassador Sadiq suggested negotiations with the TTP through the Afghan Taliban.
It is likely that given the resurgence of TTP attacks, Pakistan may close the door on negotiations and pursue other options to neutralize the terror threat. Some observers believe that the TTP’s ceasefire announcement may be a tactical move to extract more concessions from Pakistan in the wake of the change of command.
Sources said a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), the highest forum to discuss national security and defense matters, will be convened to discuss a possible new strategy.
