Talks with the Taliban

Part - II
We need to see how matters stood on the ground before 9/11. There was no army in Fata. All matters of government and those of the tribes were dealt with by the political agent who was assisted by the civil armed forces – the Frontier Corps, the Khasadars and the tribal maliks.
They successfully maintained law and order in the area and guarded our western border with the help of the local people even during the 1965 and 1971 wars or the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
What went so drastically wrong with the marching of Americans troops into a neighbouring country that our own children have turned against us? This point needs to be thoroughly examined so that we are able to take the right decisions required for steering the country out of the quagmire in which it has landed since then.
Whether it is ‘our’ war or not is beside the point now and we have to learn lessons from hard realities and move forward. The US, which twisted our hands to join in its so-called war on terror, is itself preparing to abandon Afghanistan. Then why are we still carrying on with that burden?
Let us throw it out and tell the nation that we are no longer fighting anyone else's war, including that of the Americans, nor would we allow anyone to fight its war on or from our soil. And we should follow this steadfastly, not permitting anyone to deviate from that irrespective of whether it is Fata or anywhere else in the country.
While taking this decision we have to give to the people of Fata what they have been denied for ages – a feeling of belonging. That they are as good and respectable citizens as anybody else in the country, that they will not be treated any longer with contempt as aliens or third rate citizens, that their rights are equal to those of other citizens of Pakistan.
This will have to be proved through deeds and not left as mere words. They have to be made stakeholders in all matters concerning them. This is the crux of the matter. The people there want peace and will not hesitate to render unmatched sacrifices once convinced that the government means what it says and will treat them with respect and dignity.
We have wasted ten precious years in fighting a war – and that too on our own soil. Had that time been utilised into mainstreaming Fata we could have achieved very positive results. We not only lost that moment but squandered everything there in the name of peace for the region. We neither found peace nor developed Fata to bring it at par with the rest of the country.
It is heartening to see the government taking the right course of action by entering into negotiations with the Taliban. The efforts made so far are worthy of commendation despite a lack of really representative local people in the government’s committee constituted for the purpose.
Contacts for peaceful resolution of the problem have already been established and now efforts are ongoing for direct talks between the two sides (the government’s committee and the Taliban) in and around Bannu. A member of the Taliban committee, Professor Ibrahim Khan, has already expressed optimism provided the government shows magnanimity in resolving the matter. This brings one to the conclusion that this is the right and the only way of moving forwards to resolve this complex problem and restore peace in the region.
The prime minister deserves all appreciation for the political acumen shown in visiting his rival Imran Khan at the latter’s residence in Bani Gala and asking him to join hands with him in the struggle to quell the strife unleashed on us because of the wrong policies of the dictator. This good gesture was equally reciprocated by Imran Khan when he offered unequivocal support for the peace process and even to use of force if some quarters do not believe in peaceful resolution of this problem.
Their unanimity on this score has frustrated those calling for a military operation and for abandoning the dialogue process. This has sent a clear message to everybody that the leaders of the two major political parties are firmly resolved to pursuing the negotiation process – which is a right step in the right direction.
Concluded
The writer is a former ambassador.
Email: waziruk@hotmail.com