Islamabad: Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah said that government could reengage in negotiations with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) if proscribed militant group won’t challenge state’s writ.

Security czar’s comments came just day after he claimed that government would not hold talks with militant outfits be it TTP or any other terrorist organisation. “If TTP decides to come under ambit of Constitution, then we can hold talks with them,” he told journalists during press conference here, a similar demand that previous government put forth before outlawed organisation.

TTP is responsible for taking scores of innocent lives and has recently upped ante as it launched multiple attacks and killed several people after ending ceasefire with Islamabad. Government held peace talks with terrorist organisation in Afghanistan, with Afghan Taliban playing mediatory role. But negotiations hit snag as no conclusive steps could be taken after negotiations.

Sanullah said recent National Security Committee underlined that no form of militancy would be tolerated and “zero-tolerance” policy has been adopted against terrorism. “There will no distinction between good and bad terrorists.”  In light of rising terror incidents, NSC decided last week that no country would be allowed to provide sanctuaries and facilitation to terrorists and Pakistan reserves all rights to safeguard its people.

He mentioned that during previous year, 67 percent of attacks took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 31 percent in Balochistan, while Sindh and Punjab accounted for one percent of strikes.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 05 2023

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