fter rejecting several government offers for talks on the state of national economy and other issues, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has finally announced its willingness to attend the upcoming All-Parties Conference on the fight against terrorism.

The APC, to be called by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in the coming weeks, is meant to obtain endorsement from the country’s political parties for the Azm-i-Istehkam military operation against the terror networks active on Pakistani soil. At the same time, the PTI’s incarcerated founder intends to start a hunger strike in jail to keep the Judiciary and the Executive under pressure.

Khan’s consent to attend the APC may be a good omen. Such participation could help contain political polarisation in the country as it may open up the door for further talks between the ruling coalition and the opposition to resolve the political issues.

Despite his party’s broken organisation, Imran Khan is playing his cards smartly and keeping the political pot boiling. He had been rejecting the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party’s offers for talks since 2019 when he was in power. Two days before his arrest from his Zaman Park, Lahore, residence, this scribe reminded him about the days during Nawaz Sharif and Musharraf’s rule when he first joined the Pakistan Awami Ittehad which later became the Grand Democratic Alliance meant to oust the PML-N government and the movement for the restoration of the Judiciary. Late Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan had led the GDA which included the PPP, the Awami National Party and some other political groups. During Gen Musharraf’s rule, the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy was formed under the chairmanship of the Nawabzada. The PTI had joined it later. Khan then used to address public rallies along with the PPP and PML-N leaders.

This scribe also reminded him of the joint declaration by the PML-N and the PTI in 2007, signed in London by him and Nawaz Sharif to boycott the elections announced before the assassination of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and asked, “Why don’t you negotiate with the political forces instead of asking the military leaders for talks?” Khan had responded: “You have reminded me of the days when I stood with these parties. But when they came into power, they plundered the national exchequer and settled their corruption cases. There is no use talking to them.”

When asked if he had a roadmap to stop the establishment’s interference in political affairs, he said: “It cannot be stopped; that is why I want to negotiate with the military leadership alone.”

The conversation shows Khan’s mindset about the political forces and the military leaders. At various times, Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have offered talks with the PTI to resolve political and other problems but he has always refused to engage in such talks. PTI leaders have justified the refusal by saying that the PTI would accept the offer for talks only after the government released all PTI prisoners including Khan and withdraw the cases against them.

Early statements by some PTI leaders suggested that the party would refuse to attend the APC. However, Khan issued a statement from jail that the PTI would attend the APC. In a statement issued on X on behalf of Imran Khan, the PTI stated that the party would participate in the APC for the sake of the country and listen to the government’s plan. “Law and order is a national issue. We have reservations about the Azm-i-Istehkam Operation. It could increase instability in the country.”

Last month, the National Action Plan’s Apex Committee decided to launch another military operation, Azm-i-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability) to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan. Later, the federal cabinet approved the decision. However, several political parties raised objections about the military operation. The prime minister then decided to convene an APC to seek a consensus on the operation. On Thursday, the PM decided further to initiate a national dialogue on the operation to acquire the people’s mandate.

Early statements by some PTI leaders suggested that the party would refuse to attend the APC. However, Khan issued a statement from jail that the PTI would attend the APC. In a statement issued on X on behalf of Imran Khan, the PTI stated that it would participate in the APC for the sake of the country and listen to the government’s plan. “Law and order is a national issue. We have reservations about the Azm-i-Istehkam Operation. It could increase instability in the country.”

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Wednesday said that Imran Khan’s decision to participate in the APC was final. He said the PTI would attend the conference.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and some other PML-N leaders have welcomed the PTI’s announcement. Speaking to a private news channel, he recalled that the government had extended several invitations to the PTI for talks in the past. He said the offer remained open. “PML-N president Nawaz Sharif is always open to talks. Our previous offers for dialogue were rejected. The PTI’s current willingness to attend the APC is a positive development.”

On the other hand, Khan has also said he intends to start a hunger strike. Last week, after a hearing of the Al-Qadir Trust case, he told some media persons, “I will go on a hunger strike. I am waiting for some decisions. I will make an announcement later.”

There is speculation that he will announce a hunger strike after the verdict on the Sunni Ittehad Council’s case about reserved seats in the assemblies and the Al Qadir Trust case to bring the Judiciary under pressure and motivate his supporters. “If he goes on a hunger strike, the entire nation will follow him,” says Gandapur.

Its attendance of the APC can pave the way for the PTI to generate new possibilities for talks with the establishment. A hunger strike will keep the political pot boiling and is expected to benefit the PTI.

Independent analysts are of the view that the PTI has decided to attend the APC after there was no headway in its contacts with the establishment.

Mubasher Bukhari is a senior journalist, teacher of journalism, writer and analyst. He tweets at @BukhariMubasher