Daily Times

Sir: The Taliban’s announcement of a month long ceasefire and the government’s reciprocity in halting surgical air strikes is not surprising. The Taliban have used similar tactics at least nine times to negotiate various agreements with governments during the last few years, and every time the militants regrouped themselves and came back stronger and more ruthless. The PML-N government is clueless in its strategy to deal with the Taliban and is only responding to the actions of militant groups. A few days ago the government asked the Taliban to lay down their arms and said talks can only be held under the country’s constitution. However, the government has now announced it will only respond to Taliban actions. Chaudhry Nisar Ali’s announcement that the government has a right to respond to any act of violence shows his submission to the militant group: that the state is no longer capable or willing to initiate any operation and would rather wait for another attack on its citizens before it will give any response. The Interior Minister’s other statement that his government has not taken “any unjustified action” against militants is equally shocking. This statement is disgraceful for the families of over 50,000 citizens killed by the militant groups, as the government responded only after the killing of 23 FC personnel during the negotiations. The Taliban announced the ceasefire only after strong air strikes on their hideouts in North Waziristan. The PML-N government has apparently decided to lose its advantage by announcing the policy of “only responding” to the Taliban actions.

IRFAN HUSSAIN

London,

UK