THE brutal ‘logic’ of the Pakistani Taliban was witnessed once more on Thursday. According to media reports, TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, while adopting a wait-and-see stance, did not spurn Nawaz’s Sharif offer of talks, saying that the option of dialogue would be discussed by the militant group’s leadership. But in the same breath, the TTP spokesman claimed responsibility for the bombing which killed at least 12 people — mostly policemen — in Quetta. Ehsan said the law enforcers had been targeted because the Balochistan police had arrested and killed TTP fighters from Swat. Such actions reveal the Taliban’s arrogance and the fact that they want to negotiate with the state from a position of strength. While expressing the desire for dialogue the militants are capable of excessive destruction. The extremists, to put it mildly, can be very slippery, and have no qualms about shedding blood. Hence any effort at negotiations where the militants have the upper hand cannot be very promising. This is a stark fact that Nawaz Sharif should realise, as should Imran Khan, Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Munawar Hasan, who have all supported the idea of talks with the religious extremists.

Indeed the nation is tired of years of deadly militant violence and battle fatigue is affecting all segments of society. Any talks ‘offers’ by the TTP should be thoroughly scrutinised by the state and red lines must be clearly drawn. Peaceful negotiations to end a bloody conflict are always a preferable option to violence. But there must first be an unambiguous willingness on the militants’ side to renounce bloodshed. The incoming government needs to proceed with great caution on this front. The state cannot be browbeaten and cowed into talking to the extremists on their terms and under the shadow of their swords.