AFTER long negotiations, all stakeholders unanimously endorsed the government’s stand on dialogue with the local Taliban. The All Parties Conference (APC) in its eight-point agenda highlighted the significance of negotiations with our own people in the tribal areas.

What was missing in the 1100-word resolution was the will of the government as to how to cope with the deteriorating situation in different parts of the country. Since Pakistan’s inception, many political leaders have raised their voice on various platforms to curb terrorism and extremism. Unfortunately not a single leader was able to bring peace in the country.

Many APCs had been held but, unfortunately, not a single APC yielded productive results. Every political party offered its own set of solutions. It seems that there exists a trust deficit among all the heads of the political parties to deal with the prevailing situation of the country.

The government should have indicated in its resolution as how to engage with the TTP and other militants organisations.

Besides, how will the local Taliban be brought to the negotiation table if they all are financed by international intelligence agencies?

Religious-cum-political leaders must go one step ahead to convince the so-called local Taliban to take part in the dialogue.

KHAWAR MEMON
Thatta