Jirga meets Mehsud Taliban to negotiate peace agreement
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PESHAWAR: A tribal jirga representing Mehsud tribesmen met the Mehsud Taliban chief Khan Said alias Sajna and other commanders on Sunday to negotiate for peace agreement between government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Tribal sources told Dawn that a 11-member jirga which was announced a few ago in Tank has started efforts for peaceful settlement of conflict between the government and the TTP.
The jirga held an initial meeting with the Mehsud Taliban and would put forth their suggestions to the official authorities. Headed by Ikramuddin, father-in-law of the slain TTP founder and chief Baitullah Mehsud, the jirga comprised ten other key Mehsud tribal elders.
Read: Jirga to hold talks with Mehsud Taliban
Sources said the jirga had been empowered to hold talks with all Mehsud factions, including the groups of Khan Said and Shehryar. It will discuss with two little known factions — Shamim group and Hazratullah group also known as Toora Shpa (Black Night) — the matter of a peace agreement.
The formation of the Mehsud jirga is part of the government’s reconciliatory policy towards the Taliban, particularly Mehsud factions. Sources said the peace initiative was started when a Waziristan tribal jirga was called by the Corps Commander at his office in Peshawar about two weeks ago.
The jirga had a one-point agenda of persuading the Mehsud Taliban to reach an accord with the government. They said three secret meetings had been held by the Mehsud tribal jirga with the political agent of Waziristan and they agreed to facilitate talks between Mehsud Taliban and the government.
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Comments (43) Closed
Nov 02, 2014 04:27pm
Why not defeat them first comprehensively so that Pakistan can enforce an accord that ensures TTP's neutralization forever.
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Nov 02, 2014 04:40pm
@Jawad U Rahman. I agree with you. What a farce! There should be no negotiations with the outlaws. The Government simply does not get it while Pakistan continues to suffer. The civilian government should announce her plan for political governance and administration which needs to be implemented right after the clean up by the army has been completed
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Nov 02, 2014 04:43pm
'Peace negotiation meeting' part of 'WAR ON TERROR' !
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Nov 02, 2014 04:44pm
Its a right time for the government to start peace talks from the position of strength. The Taliban will realize the ground realities and would be more flexible to negotiate a peace deal with the government. The credit must be given to Pakistan Army for initiating a challenging operation in North Waziristan and putting the Taliban on defensive. Now it is for the present government to negotiate with firm position a peace deal which brings peace and prosperity for Pakistan.
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Nov 02, 2014 04:51pm
You Let these terrorists in your province and now your paying the price! Our mothers and daughters and the elders are suffering because of your mistake.
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Nov 02, 2014 04:55pm
No negotiations with these killers that have killed 40,000 Pakistan civilian and military personals. Its time once and for all to abolish these autonomous regions and absorb them in Pakistan. If these people are given time and space they will once again start there terrorist activities. Now with ISIS knocking on the door they will probably take up that ideology. Its time for these criminals and terrorists to eliminated .
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Nov 02, 2014 04:58pm
Believe me. They will never throw guns. Why should they make peace? They kill to earn their livelihood. They are mercenaries. Forget about peace and finish them once and for all.
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Nov 02, 2014 04:59pm
these jirgas have destroyed Pak, just finish filth from Land of Pure, no need negotiate...!!!!
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Nov 02, 2014 05:05pm
@Jawad U Rahman
The Mehsude faction accounts for 2600 fighters out of 5000 to 7600 (These are the mainstream sources I.e. Dawn, Express, Jhang)
It isn't a small group and the initial demand of the Mehsud Group was to stop drone strikes and support for the NATO occupation of Afghanistan. Now that the US is leaving and drones may come to a halt (potentially). They don't have a reason to fight and as far as I know all killing as has been reported since the split of TTP has been done JuD and Shehryar Group. The Sajna group which has 2600 fighters has stopped bombing and terorizing. If an agreement can be reached peacefully it is probably better.
I'd also like to the agreements include that the terrorists must give up their arms and accept Pakistan's laws. If we can win without any losses why should we take any? Also if there is no agreement NS is not shy of using the military option!
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Nov 02, 2014 05:11pm
Pak army cannot defeat Taliban. Taliban is a mindset. You cannot have both secular, moderate and modern ideologies with midlevel backward believes. You don't chose former because people will ask why do you need Pakistan?
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Nov 02, 2014 05:15pm
Jirga team need to wake up from dream about having peace with them.
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Nov 02, 2014 05:16pm
Definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.
Pakistan army has officially has lost the fight with Taliban and now it's negotiating its terms of surrender.
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Nov 02, 2014 05:32pm
Surrender all weapons and wanted leaders. Talks after peace...
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Nov 02, 2014 05:42pm
@Jawad U Rahman ; It is very easy to say to say "defeat them". If you are so brave, go on then, fight with them along with the army and "defeat them" so that you and your family could live in peace. Will you do that?
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Nov 02, 2014 05:45pm
@Sammy : Ah, you sort out your own problems and if don't bully your neighbours and control your RAW, there will be peace in South Asia. I would suggest you to bully China and see if its outcome is different than 1962?
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Nov 02, 2014 05:47pm
At one point or the other, even after a million years of war both sides will negotiate, be it peace or terms of surrender. I support negotiations in the correct terms. TTP must disband, disarm, hand over details of their organizational structure such as financers, suppliers, weapons hordes, bomb making specialists. All former and current TTP fighters must be registered and monitored. Anyone involved in attacks on civilian targets must face trial under Shariah law.
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Nov 02, 2014 05:51pm
These are the same tribes that allowed the terrorists to stay as their guests. The army currently has the upper hand and should take full advantage of the situation. There should be no talks, these tribal system needs to be eliminated once and for all. The writ of the government should be the forced and the only option for these people should by to follow it.
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Nov 02, 2014 06:33pm
Wild people with wild dreams..
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Nov 02, 2014 06:54pm
No talks or negotiations full stop!!!
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Nov 02, 2014 07:08pm
Back to square one
You cant defeat these militants coz u too represent their mentality.
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Nov 02, 2014 07:12pm
The faces in the Jirga tells you a lot about Paksitan's problems. All old and crusty men sitting in the dirt. No women or educated young ones.
How many peace deals has Pakistan made with these criminal gangs, that were later violated by these same terrorists??? Unconditional surrender (just like was demanded of the Germans at the end of WWII) is the only way to ensure this monster dies for good. Criminals who have killed civilians in bazaars, blown up girls schools and killed our soldiers should not be given a place at the negotiating table. Either die or surrender and go to jail.
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Nov 02, 2014 07:17pm
Does it mean army operation has failed. Any justification for keeping such a large army?
The blast in Lahore is a gift from terrorists for starting these negotiations. Shameful for government
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Nov 02, 2014 07:19pm
We have not learned any lessons. There should be no negotiations with these, we should clean them up, wipe them out. There is no solution to our mess otherwise. Besides we have not yet terminated their main leaders, the Sufis, the Shahidullahs, the Mullah Radios etc. They very well know that at this stage they cannot take on Pakistan Army ... they have simply dispersed and are playing the same old game. Please! do not give them a chance to regroup and reorganize, take this war to its logical conclusion. Shame to Taliban sympathizers, shame to all those who are seeking safety for enemies of Pakistan.
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Nov 02, 2014 07:27pm
No negotiations with terrorists.
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Nov 02, 2014 07:31pm
@Shuaib Bhat: it is the mind set like yours which has and is creating monsters. No viable government in the world negotiates with armed groups of outlaws. It does not matter if they have 7000 or 20000 men, our army is capable of the clean up - it is the civilian government I am worried about which seems to have no political and administration plans after the clean up is done
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Nov 02, 2014 07:32pm
@Shuaib Bhat
Fighting is their job. They don't do anything else. They (T) get paid for killing and holding guns from morning to evening and don't do anything else.
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Nov 02, 2014 07:37pm
The peace negotiation is well come,but it should not be the same as previous, that TTP only impose their demands.
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Nov 02, 2014 07:52pm
@Sammy. It was grant Pa who brought them here for fight against Russians in Afghanistan. How can you blame the province?
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Nov 02, 2014 07:58pm
Immediate cost of these PEACE talks, loss of 50innocent lives at Wahga
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Nov 02, 2014 08:13pm
It's a eye wash crush them now these monsters never changed
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Nov 02, 2014 08:22pm
Negotiations only if TTP surrenders weapons and bomb making paraphirnilia.
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Nov 02, 2014 08:50pm
Peace talks can only mean its a good thing for people of Pakistan those who say "no talks with terrorists" are very shallow minded and don't understand politics.
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Nov 02, 2014 08:51pm
It will be a loss for Pakistan to kill these people when they can be used effectively against India in kashmir and elsewhere.
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Nov 02, 2014 08:57pm
@x kashmiri independance war fight by kashmiries not pakistanies.
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Nov 02, 2014 09:02pm
Why now when TTP is on the back foot. Get rid of the whole cancer, not just part of it.
This is no time to salvage strategic depth. We should have learned the lesson by now.
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Nov 02, 2014 09:11pm
@x don't even try. Kashmir is not Afghanistan and Kashmiris are not tribal pashtuns. India will defend her territory. Kashmiris will not give any support to Taliban's.
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Nov 02, 2014 09:47pm
This is a mindset developed for decades by government and military. These guys are like a contagious zombies, no matter how many people you kill, terrorism will increase in Pakistan.
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Nov 02, 2014 11:32pm
Capitulation to these beasts again, and we wonder why there is no rule of law.
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Nov 03, 2014 12:28am
Do not make that mistake again. No peace negotiations till these traitors lay down their arms and pledge true loyalty to Pakistan.
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Nov 03, 2014 05:20am
Negotiating with Talibans means you are recognizing them as party to claim Pakistani territory.
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Nov 03, 2014 06:34am
Why did Corps Commander Peshawar who is overall incharge for Zarb-e-Azb ask the Mehsud tribal leaders to take a jirga to the master terrorist Khan Said? Are we not winning the battle? Our Arrmy has the history of hiding the truth from the people in past wars. I hope it is not doing the same now.
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Nov 03, 2014 06:42am
@Haaris Sometimes, you have to forget about "politics" and do what is right!
You never negotiate with a snake!
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Nov 03, 2014 09:07am
What JIRGA???? Haven't we tried all that with these illiterate and ignorant people for past few decades. No compromise and no negotiation should be offered to these baby killers. First a complete clean up and then accountability of their movement. None of these animals with any past history should be allowed in any of the metropolitan cities at all in the future.
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