Peace talks

This refers to the news report, ‘Taliban reject Pak pressure on peace process’ (March 16). According to the report, the Taliban have rejected Pakistan prodding them into talking to Afghan officials. The Taliban have decided instead to go for the spring offensive in Afghanistan. For them it makes little sense to indulge in peace talks when they are winning in the battlefield.

Pakistan’s influence on the Afghan Taliban is considered to be decisive in bringing them to the negotiating table. But after creating areas of influence in Afghanistan, the Taliban do not need bases in Pakistan – our most important leverage – as much as they needed them before. In their reckoning if Pakistan’s push for peace talks becomes a shove, they can always relocate their bases to Afghanistan. But in spite of their military successes, the Taliban will not be able to run over Kabul by force. It is time the Afghan people were given some respite – and that is possible only through talks.

Akbar Jan Marwat

Islamabad