NEGOTIATION with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan is not an acceptable option to the majority of the people. There are many reasons for this response. Let us discuss some substantial reasons one by one. The first and foremost is that the Taliban are violators of the constitution of Pakistan. Second, they are doing insurgency by trying to create a state within a state.

Third, they are the murderers of our very brave and patriotic soldiers, innocent civilians and charismatic leaders. Fourth, they wanted to impose on our society their distorted ideology, which is in complete contrast to Islamic values. At what cost are we trying for talks? Article 5 of the constitution states that everyone, even a foreigner, living here, must show allegiance to the constitution and to the state of Pakistan. If not, it is defiance and violation of the constitution.

These violators must be dealt with sternly. Further , Article 256 of the constitution categorically states that raising of private armies and militias in the state territory must b disbanded and dismantled. We must disband them through a course of military actions. Having seventh largest army of the world, we can dismantle the TTP network, a small faction. The TTP is limited to bordering areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan .

However, if we really want a dialogue, we must hold it with the Afghan Taliban to weaken the strategic position of the TTP. The Afghan Taliban and TTP are almost at loggerheads in Kunhar province in Afghanistan because the TTP wants its control of the province for its lucrative lumber and narcotics rather than ideological conflicts. The Afghan Taliban in this regard may join the anti-TTP front to safeguard their economic interest.

Moreover, the Afghan Taliban are fighting a legitimate war against foreign troops present on their soil. Why is the TTP doing insurgency against the state? Their insurgency has no legitimate ground. Thus there is no valid reason for us to hold talks with this insurgent group. We must try to hold fruitful dialogue with Afghan Taliban rather than TTP.

GHULAM MUSTAFA LAGHARI Sinjhoro, Sanghar