Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said on Monday the Afghan Taliban had reassured the government that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) would not be given permission to operate in Afghanistan against Pakistan. Responding to a question while addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the interior minister said some TTP members such as Maulvi Faqir Mohammad had been released by the Taliban after their takeover of Kabul on August 15, adding that the government was in “full contact” with the Taliban on the issue. “The Afghan Taliban have reassured [us] that Afghanistan’s land will not be allowed to be used in any case by the TTP,” said Rashid.
In Swat, TTP rejected Pakistan’s constitution, set up its own courts and planned to march to occupy Islamabad. Army had to be called in to restore the state’s writ. In another agency the TTP showed extreme disrespect for the dead bodies of the soldiers. It also ruthlessly killed 132 school children in Peshawar Army Public School. Any move considered to be a concession to the TTP is likely to elicit strong public reaction. The TTP does not comprise a few dozen individuals. A report prepared for the UN Security council this year estimated its fighting strength to range from 2,500 and 6,000 members. Pakistan can ill-afford to give a clean chit to the bulk of the murderers after punishing a handful of leaders.
A number of terrorist groups that threaten the integrity of China, Central Asian states and Iran are sheltered in Afghanistan. An agreement reached on TTP without consulting these countries could create misunderstandings with Pakistan. Pakistan has also to take note of the fact that the UN and US have listed TTP as a global terrorist organization. Any concession could cause problems for it at international forums.
The best way should be to seek the repatriation of TTP leaders against whom Pakistan possesses proofs and get them sentenced through courts. As the TTP yearns for the type of system the Taliban want to introduce in Afghanistan, the remaining lot may be given Afghan citizenship by Taliban and told not to interfere in other countries.
+”The related authorities there have been told that those who have done terrorism in Pakistan [are controlled].
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