ISLAMABAD – The speakers at a consultation unanimously viewed that Pakistan needs to be ‘assertive’ and should negotiate with outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from the ‘position of strength.’Most participants were critical of the demand of proscribed TTP about reversal of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)’s merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The group has set a major condition of reversal of FATA’s merger with KP to cut any peace deal with Pakistan. “There are chances of some breakthrough.” He rejected the notion that the TTP and the Afghan Taliban were two sides of the same coin. “Pakistan needs to deal with the Afghan Taliban pragmatically.”Former foreign secretary Inam-ul-Haq viewed that Pakistan should recognise Afghanistan as an independent and separate country and deal with it in the same manner. He refuted the idea that Pakistan should give away a part of its territory to TTP through any peace deal.

Source: The Nation June 12, 2022 01:29 UTC