ISLAMABAD: As the nation awaits with bated breath the formal response of the TTP to government proposals to end terrorism, the unparalleled transparency of this highly sensitive dialogue may cost the peace process significantly.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, an avid advocate of peaceful resolution, emphatically demanded that the parleys should be “open and transparent,” and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accepted his recommendation, without realizing the downside and pitfalls of such a recourse.
Reinforcing his policy that nothing regarding the negotiations will be concealed, Nawaz Sharif stated the other day that it is good that the government committee is frequently taking the people into confidence about the peace talks.
“We do recognize the disadvantages and hazards of 24/7 breaking news culture, but we will earn unnecessary flak if we keep the negotiations under wraps,” a senior government leader told The News.
However, he said, none from the government is allowed to speak about the deliberations between the two committees, formed by the prime minister and the TTP. “Only their members are commenting on the discussions, and they are well qualified to do so for being privy to whole affair.”
The source said that if any government leader has talked about the dialogue process, he has simply reposed absolute confidence in it and sounded optimistic. “Nobody from our side is discounting or putting down the dialogue process.”
This is perhaps the first time in any part of the world that such a delicate problem is being hammered out in full public view, which may diminish chances of its success.No side wants to lose regardless of the success or failure of the process. Both sides are keen to get dividends at the public level from any outcome. “By ensuring total transparency, we are demonstrating our sincere intention for the process to become result-oriented,” the source said.
He admitted that the TTP did enjoy some public support, and whether it will be able to maintain or lose it will mainly depend upon its approach and policy during the talks.“It is obvious that the ruling party doesn’t want to face any political damage as a result of the peace process. This is the fundamental reason behind transparency, and why should we cover up anything when we are serious and sincere,” the source said.
He said it was encouraging to note that some religious leaders have also stressed that Shariah was amply provided in the Pakistan’s Constitution, which was not un-Islamic. They have also emphasized that Sharia can’t be allowed to be enforced on the force of gun by any segment of society. The source conceded that there are drawbacks of too much transparency, but at the same time it is good that every political party especially those which vociferously call for peace parleys become satisfied when they come to know about the deliberations.
They, he said, will certainly raise doubts about the government’s effort and intentions if it decided to hide the outcome of talks at different stages.The source said that the transparency would fully expose the side, which was unnecessarily inflexible and made irrational demands, sabotaging the process instead of peaceful resolution of the problem.
Everyone believes that the next round of talks will largely depend on the response of the TTP to the government’s stand that the dialogue would remain within the ambit of the Constitution; the result of the negotiations would be restricted to only insurgency struck areas in the tribal belt and not whole of Pakistan. The source said that the very fact that the government committee included in its proposals that the dialogue will not be protracted because the nation is waiting for good news showed that it wants early elimination of the menace of terrorism like every Pakistani.
He acknowledged the keenness of the people at large, who want solution to a lingering dangerous problem that has claimed thousands of lives of civilians and military personnel apart from destroying Pakistan economically and bringing a bad name to it in the outside world.
The source said that the government wants immediate next meeting between the two committees to make substantive progress. It is likely to be held in the next two days.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, an avid advocate of peaceful resolution, emphatically demanded that the parleys should be “open and transparent,” and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accepted his recommendation, without realizing the downside and pitfalls of such a recourse.
Reinforcing his policy that nothing regarding the negotiations will be concealed, Nawaz Sharif stated the other day that it is good that the government committee is frequently taking the people into confidence about the peace talks.
“We do recognize the disadvantages and hazards of 24/7 breaking news culture, but we will earn unnecessary flak if we keep the negotiations under wraps,” a senior government leader told The News.
However, he said, none from the government is allowed to speak about the deliberations between the two committees, formed by the prime minister and the TTP. “Only their members are commenting on the discussions, and they are well qualified to do so for being privy to whole affair.”
The source said that if any government leader has talked about the dialogue process, he has simply reposed absolute confidence in it and sounded optimistic. “Nobody from our side is discounting or putting down the dialogue process.”
This is perhaps the first time in any part of the world that such a delicate problem is being hammered out in full public view, which may diminish chances of its success.No side wants to lose regardless of the success or failure of the process. Both sides are keen to get dividends at the public level from any outcome. “By ensuring total transparency, we are demonstrating our sincere intention for the process to become result-oriented,” the source said.
He admitted that the TTP did enjoy some public support, and whether it will be able to maintain or lose it will mainly depend upon its approach and policy during the talks.“It is obvious that the ruling party doesn’t want to face any political damage as a result of the peace process. This is the fundamental reason behind transparency, and why should we cover up anything when we are serious and sincere,” the source said.
He said it was encouraging to note that some religious leaders have also stressed that Shariah was amply provided in the Pakistan’s Constitution, which was not un-Islamic. They have also emphasized that Sharia can’t be allowed to be enforced on the force of gun by any segment of society. The source conceded that there are drawbacks of too much transparency, but at the same time it is good that every political party especially those which vociferously call for peace parleys become satisfied when they come to know about the deliberations.
They, he said, will certainly raise doubts about the government’s effort and intentions if it decided to hide the outcome of talks at different stages.The source said that the transparency would fully expose the side, which was unnecessarily inflexible and made irrational demands, sabotaging the process instead of peaceful resolution of the problem.
Everyone believes that the next round of talks will largely depend on the response of the TTP to the government’s stand that the dialogue would remain within the ambit of the Constitution; the result of the negotiations would be restricted to only insurgency struck areas in the tribal belt and not whole of Pakistan. The source said that the very fact that the government committee included in its proposals that the dialogue will not be protracted because the nation is waiting for good news showed that it wants early elimination of the menace of terrorism like every Pakistani.
He acknowledged the keenness of the people at large, who want solution to a lingering dangerous problem that has claimed thousands of lives of civilians and military personnel apart from destroying Pakistan economically and bringing a bad name to it in the outside world.
The source said that the government wants immediate next meeting between the two committees to make substantive progress. It is likely to be held in the next two days.
Source: News in Hindi
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