Daily Times

It seems as though the Taliban and government are involved in a cat and mouse game. Varying and conflicting reports in the media this past week have been fraught with uncertainty over the standpoints of both the Pakistan government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Only three days ago, a senior Taliban leader, in a telephonic conversation with the Associated Press (AP), had declared a countrywide ceasefire on behalf of the group in support of the nascent peace talks reportedly being held with the government. These alleged peace talks were however, categorically denied by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) and the government. Soon after, Ehsan Ehsanullah, TTP’s main spokesperson, also decided to let his stance be known through an attack on a police station in Dera Ismail Khan, not only disproving the reports of a ceasefire but also affirming that the group will not be a party to any dialogue with the government.

The above mentioned course of events this past week articulates a very murky narrative on the situation at hand. Prima facie, the claim of a ceasefire from one leader of the TTP and the subsequent attack as a rebuttal of that claim from another leader is reflective of a split in the ranks of the Taliban. The TTP appears divided and enmeshed in contradictions over the goals of the group as a whole. Also, with not much being disclosed by the government in this regard, the situation has become extremely murky.

The government must be mindful of the capriciousness of the Taliban, which is all too evident from the track record of all failed peace negotiation attempts in the past where they have used ceasefires and so-called ‘peace deals’ as an opportunity to regroup and strengthen their ranks. It is unlikely that the Taliban will unanimously agree to a ceasefire given the absence of an integrated approach from all their factions. Even if peace talks are held, they will not be productive unless the Taliban as a group speak with one voice and they agree to lay down arms in compliance with the condition set by the Pakistan government for negotiations to be possible. Therefore, in the absence of clear peace signals from the TTP, there seems little choice except continuing the struggle to eliminate their influence from the tribal areas once and for all. *