The bomb blast at a vegetable market in Islamabad yesterday, which claimed at least 20 innocent lives, was a distressing reminder that peace talks between the government and Taliban are heading for stagnation.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been quick to absolve itself of any responsibility for this heinous act. This, however, will not alter the sentiments of the public and officials who find that the minimal progress achieved, following the intense offensive against the Taliban, has been disrupted.
The ceasefire was supposed to hold until today, and bring about productive talks and ensure respite from the deadly violence that has nearly 50,000 lives since 2001.
Apart from the TTP, which is the principal protagonist in this dialogue with Islamabad, there are breakaway militant factions, like the Ahrar-ul-Hind for instance, that also press on for incentives. They do this by adopting the carrot and stick policy with the government — the threat of reprisal if their demands are not met is always the caveat. Yesterday’s death toll is a grim reminder that multiple scenarios are being played out.
Delays in achieving stability will only thwart Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s strategy. Peace and the state of the economy are interlinked, and the government urgently needs to re-energise trade and commerce so that it may act as a fuel for the people’s confidence, especially in the country’s rural areas, some of which are in the grip of militancy. The insurgency in Pakistan has wilted economic growth and a $6.6 billion (Dh24.2 billion) loan from the International Monetary Fund was taken to address this last September. Sharif and his cabinet will have to sort out their dilemma of which route to take now — to opt for peace or renew offensive measures. While the former choice is preferable, the latter alternative must be weighed seriously in the event of a no-win situation presenting itself.
The people of Pakistan cannot afford to have their security and well being conceded to uncompromising militants guided by rigid ideologies
