NOVANEWS
By Sajjad Shaukat
After the World War I, the policy of appeasement was followed by the Great Britain to pacify
German leader Hitler who increased his demands and occupied more European regions. Such
a British strategy which showed signs of weakness resulted into World War II. In one way
or the other, Pakistan’s present government is acting upon the similar policy towards all the
militant groups of the Taliban, especially Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which has continued
its terror-activities such as suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings, ruthless beheadings
of the innocent people, assaults on security personnel and prominent religious figures. On
January 20, this year, thirteen people including six security personnel were killed and 29 others
injured after a suicide bomb, exploded at R.A Bazaar near the army’s General Headquarters
(GHQ) in Rawalpindi. Besides other cities of Pakistan, particularly Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa
and Karachi have become special target of subversive acts, while in Balochistan, the Taliban
have connections with other insurgents’ outfits like Balachistan Liberation Army (BLA) and
Jundollah (God’s soldiers).
Condemning the latest acts of terrorism, particularly in Rawalpindi by the TTP which also
claimed responsibility for the same, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior
Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan stated that attacks on innocent persons and armed forces
would not be tolerated. On the one side, they have repeatedly been emphasizing upon peace
dialogue with the Taliban, especially those of the TTP, while on the other, taking note of their
perennial terror-attacks, they have also suggested strong action against these militants.
In this context, although the rulers have expedited the formulation and promulgation of anti-
terror laws as part of counter-terrorism strategy, yet they are wavering between fact and
scepticism, as they are appeasing the TTP and their affiliated insurgent groups which have again
and again been rejecting government’s offer of peace dialogue, while continuing their acts of
sabotage. Even leaders like Imran Khan who were showing sympathies with the Taliban have
condemned their recent terror-activities.
It is mentionable that TTP is acting upon shrewd tactics, as sometimes it claims responsibility
for its terror-assaults and sometimes denies the same. For example, when its militants had
attacked the church in Peshawar in September, 2013, TTP did not accept responsibility, but
afterwards, by misinterpreting Islam, its spokesman said that it was in accordance with the
Shariah (Islamic Jurisprudence). Similarly, TTP condemned bomb blast in the Tableeghi Markaz
(preaching center) in Peshawar, which killed nine people on January 16, this year, but, it claimed
the responsibility of attacks on police in Malakand, Shangla and Mansehra including military
convoy in Bannu and R.A Bazaar near GHQ.
Meanwhile, the TTP new Chief Maulana Fazlullah had dismissed the proposed peace
negotiations with the government as a “waste of time”, and vowed to target the prime minister,
chief minister, chief of army staff and corpse commanders.
However, tough terms of the TTP for reconciliation indicate double game. In the recent past, in
a letter, Pakistani Taliban demanded that Pakistan should pull out of the Afghan war, abandon
its pro-American and pro-western policies and change its constitution and foreign policy in
conformity with Islamic Shariah.
But, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik had pointed out that the Taliban’s offer of
conditional truce was unacceptable, adding, “Taliban groups cannot dictate the state.” While
indicating unclear policy, the government is indirectly pacifying the TTP and other Taliban
insurgents who have been emboldened, and keep on challenging the writ of the state.
Notably, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wants to initiate peace process with the Taliban in
accordance with the decision of the All Parties Conference (APC) in which leaders of the
mainstream political parties had participated.
Contrarily, now, situation has entirely changed. Recently, while condemning the inhuman
activities of the insurgents, particularly by those of the TTP, more than 100 Islamic scholars
clarified in their joint fatwa (edict) and separate statements that “killing of innocent people,
target killings and suicide bombings including sectarianism are against the spirit of Islam…the
terrorists’ self-adopted interpretation of Islam was nothing but ignorance and digression from the
actual teachings of the religion.”
In fact, Islam is a religion of universal application, as it emphasizes peace, democracy,
moderation and human rights including tolerance of political groups, religious communities and
sects which are in minority in a country. In this connection, the Constitution of 1973 which was
unanimously adopted, clearly states that Pakistan is basically a democracy guided by the Islamic
principles and values—no law would be made contrary to Quran and Sunnah.
Undoubtedly, in our country, the victims of terror-attacks have been innocent men, women, and
children. While ruthless beheadings of the people, assaults on security personnel and prominent
religious figures—blowing children schools and attacking the female teachers in order to deny
education to girls, the militants also targeted the places of worships. Their nefarious acts resulted
into killings of several persons in Pakistan.
Nevertheless, Jihad is a sacred obligation, but its real spirit needs to be understood clearly, as
murdering innocent women and children is not Jihad. These Taliban and their banned affiliated
groups are defaming Islam, concept of Jihad, and are weakening Pakistan.
As terrorists have accelerated their anti-social, undemocratic and un-Islamic practices, therefore,
people from all segment of life and majority of politicians want that a handful of terrorist
elements must not be allowed to dictate their agenda and to impose their self-perceived ideology
on the majority of Pakistanis.
While the present government issued three ordinances which are before the parliament—yet to
take a concrete form of law. Nonetheless, it is due to delay in formulation and implementation
of counter-terrorism policy that the Taliban who continue their brutal acts have been encouraged
by the contradictory approach of the present government. As it is a joint war of the nation and
security forces, it certainly demands a serious unified action to root out the terrorists including
their internal and external supporters. So, the government must not act upon the policy of
appeasement regarding Taliban.
