Shun violence or pay a heavy price, Pakistan tells Taliban

[Zarvan]

PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD:
In a latest push to resurrect the fledgling Afghan peace process, Pakistan has warned the Taliban to call off their ‘spring offensive’ or face the consequences, officials familiar with the development said on Sunday.

Last week the Taliban announced the start of large-scale attacks against the government strongholds. Named after the late Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar, ‘Operation Omari’ is seen as a major setback to efforts seeking revival of the Afghan reconciliation process.

In secret meetings, Taliban rejected Pakistan pressure on peace process

A Pakistani official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, admitted that the Taliban’s move could derail the peace initiative the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) had launched in December, last year, to seek direct talks between the insurgents and Afghan government officials. The QCG is made up of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the United States.

The official said Pakistan had urged the Taliban all along to shun violence and negotiate. “That is why we are utterly disappointed by their announcement regarding the spring offensive,” he said.

The official disclosed that the Taliban leadership has been given a clear message through ‘intermediaries’ that they would have to pay a ‘heavy price’ if they refused to go back to the negotiating table.

In July last year, Pakistan persuaded the Taliban to join the first-ever direct talks with Afghan government officials. However, the contact was suspended due to announcement of Mullah Omer’s death and subsequent rifts within the group.

In March this year, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz admitted for the first time that the Taliban leadership was present in Pakistan along with their families.

US appeals to Taliban to join talks, warns of increased violence

Speaking at a think-tank in Washington, Aziz revealed that Pakistan pressured the Taliban to come to the negotiating table by imposing restrictions on their movement and denying some of the facilities they had been enjoying in the country.

However, it is not clear if the latest ‘threat’ would work as some reports suggest many Taliban leaders have already moved out of Pakistan or planned to return to Afghanistan in an effort to avoid any action.

Despite apparent hiccup, Pakistan and other QCG countries have yet not given up efforts to arrange direct talks between Kabul and the Taliban. For this purpose, US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Olson recently travelled to Islamabad and held talks with civil and military authorities. The two sides agreed to convene a QCG meeting at the earliest.

The QCG meeting was scheduled to take place after the first round of direct talks slated for the first week of March. However, it could not materialise due to the Taliban’s refusal to engage, and now a QCG meeting is being planned to discuss the latest situation.

Kabul urges Pakistan to target Afghan Taliban

The official said the meeting would discuss the prospects of resumption of talks as well as likely action in case the Taliban refused to join the process.

The QCG had invited all Taliban factions and other insurgent groups, including the Hizb-e-Islami of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who had already given his consent for peace talks. But the QCG believes the peace process cannot achieve the desired outcome if the Taliban stay out.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2016.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1086863/pakistan-to-taliban-shun-violence-or-pay-a-heavy-price/

 

[Umair Nawaz]

Pakistan cant baby sit the kabul regime everytime. They themselves were the ones who disclosed the Mullah Umer's death to the world, making taliban to destroy the peace initiative.

Just because of their own good Pakistan cant and shouldnt destroy our relations with taliban by everytime persuading them for talks and then warning them of ''dire consequences''.

IMHO let the taliban destroy the kabul regime and over run them and their indian n american puppeteers. That way we will have the most Friendly Afghanistan.

 

[WaLeEdK2]

Pakistan cant baby sit the kabul regime everytime. They themselves were the ones who disclosed the Mullah Umer's death to the world, making taliban to destroy the peace initiative.

Just because of their own good Pakistan cant and shouldnt destroy our relations with taliban by everytime persuading them for talks and then warning them of ''dire consequences''.

IMHO let the taliban destroy the kabul regime and over run them and their indian n american puppeteers. That way we will have the most Friendly Afghanistan.

The Afghan Taliban cannot be defeated. I've been saying this for years. The Americans and NATO learned the hard way. 16 years down the drain, millions of dollars wasted. And for what? the taliban just stayed low till they the west "claimed victory" and eventually left. Their strength hasn't decreased one bit.

 

[barbarosa]

Pakistan should withdraw from the piece talk between taliban and Afghan govt.

 

[shah1398]

When fingers are still pointed at Pakistan from Afghan Govt and U know that they wud never be friendlies whatsoever we do, so why giving reasons to Afghan taliban to strike deals with TTP and make life much worse here in Pakistan? Whatever step U take wud be derailed by likes of Karzais. It better to stay out of this thing and concentrate on your own backyard. We have already told the world to hurry up with peace talks as we do not have much leverage with ATs. That leverage is finished when they had started controlling large swaths of land in Afghanistan. Why wud they now need Pakistan to shelter them? This is the end result of whatsoever U do for peace in Afghanistan.
https://defence.pk/threads/islamaba...-taliban-on-its-soil-moi.427243/#post-8249797

 

[Umair Nawaz]

The Afghan Taliban cannot be defeated. I've been saying this for years. The Americans and NATO learned the hard way. 16 years down the drain, millions of dollars wasted. And for what? the taliban just stayed low till they the west "claimed victory" and eventually left. Their strength hasn't decreased one bit.

I agree, however Thats not the point. What u have written is from American or their allies POV and what i wrote is from our POV.

 

[pak-marine]

Talibans have an incentive and are invited for talks , things are not going to go their way.

Its a chance to bring peace in the region or else they can F off from pakistan and fight in their country.

 

[Red-Bull]

Pak really should stop playing the good and bad taliban game.

 

[~|Cyanide|~]

Afghan Taliban are in a position of strength and they can smell a victory, they have no real reason to negotiate with the US what so ever. The Kabul regime might qualify for peace talks but that comes hedged about with qualifiers and without those they will not find any relief from the Taliban or Pakistan side. The Pakistan officials may say whatever they want upfront and officially, but it is in the interest of Pakistan to support afghan Taliban and if Kabul regime does comply then we are more then willing to lend a helping hand. Time ran out for US, and it's also running out for Kabul. They need to make a decision and it is totally up to them to decide which direction they want to take.

 

[CENTCOM]

We fully support Pakistan’s efforts to restore peace in the country. The U.S. and Pakistan share a common stance against terrorism, and the situation in Pakistan also impacts our shared objectives in regards to stabilizing the region. We simply desire to see peace prevail throughout the Afghanistan and Pakistan region. At the same time, Pakistan continues to independently take steps to counter terrorism and restore peace inside the country. We stand united with the nation of Pakistan, and have full confidence in the government’s ability to negate the threat of terrorism and restore peace. This is what the U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Olson, said few days ago: "Pakistan has been a very good partner on peace process issues. We encourage Pakistan to use its power and influence to help bring Taliban to the table [of negotiations]."

Ali Khan
Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM

 

[RAMPAGE]

We encourage Pakistan to use its power and influence to help bring Taliban to the table [of negotiations]."

Ali Khan
Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM

What happened to the no negotiations with terrorists policy? It was a good policy.

These animals CANNOT be reasoned with.

 

[PDF]

What happened to the no negotiations with terrorists policy?

America used to not negotiate with terrorists. But, when they have not other choice, the terrorists are no more terrorists and so they can negotiate.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/taliban-terrorists-white-house/story?id=28588120

 

[A-Team]

Pakistan cant baby sit the kabul regime everytime. They themselves were the ones who disclosed the Mullah Umer's death to the world, making taliban to destroy the peace initiative.

Just because of their own good Pakistan cant and shouldnt destroy our relations with taliban by everytime persuading them for talks and then warning them of ''dire consequences''.

IMHO let the taliban destroy the kabul regime and over run them and their indian n american puppeteers. That way we will have the most Friendly Afghanistan.

Once the Talis capture Kabul, their next target or ultimate one will be Pakistan as their brethren in TTP are doing, and looking at your picture with a suit and no beard, you are perfect candidate for being flogged as you have no beard and wearing western clothes, as they did in Swat. Then you will wonder how you should have not wished these snakes for Afghanistan.

Makes you wonder, no ?

 

[PDF]

Once the Talis capture Kabul, their next target or ultimate one will be Pakistan as their brethren in TTP are doing, and looking at your picture with a suit and no beard, you are perfect candidate for being flogged as you have no beard and wearing western clothes, as they did in Swat. Then you will wonder how you should have not wished these snakes for Afghanistan.

Makes you wonder, no ?

Firstly, Pakistan do not have such foreign forces fighting or helping us in war against terror.TTP never asked to evacuate foreign forces because we do not have them. But Afghan Taliban 's one of the main demand is to evacuate foreign forces.
Secondly, As I have stated before, Afghan Taliban and TTP are pretty different.
Thirdly, We have measures so that no militant organisation challenges the writ of state. Those who did,are doing or will do had,are and will face defeat and disappointment.

 

[Umair Nawaz]

Once the Talis capture Kabul, their next target or ultimate one will be Pakistan as their brethren in TTP are doing, and looking at your picture with a suit and no beard, you are perfect candidate for being flogged as you have no beard and wearing western clothes, as they did in Swat. Then you will wonder how you should have not wished these snakes for Afghanistan.

Makes you wonder, no ?

That pic is of my late Friend who was martyred in july 15 2014 in op zarb e azb.
https://defence.pk/threads/my-best-friend-and-classmate-capt-akash-rabbani-is-shaheed.324279/

And regarding taliban, well let us decide that if they want to invade us or not since history doesnt tell that.