Finally the ice of political deadlock between Pakistan government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) melt away, subsequent to prioritization of peace talk by government than military action. Taliban has issued an elucidation stating Syed Munawar Hassan, chief of Jamaati Islami (JI), Maulana Fazlur Rhaman, chief of Jumiat Ulmaif Islam (JUIF) if mediate the peace talk they would positively respond at the peace bid.
A similar tactic applies well in Afghanistan, where the credibility of Pakistan and US are greater to bring the disgruntled Taliban on the table of negotiation. Therefore, Afghan government putting its political and constitutional priorities in consideration must formally ask Pakistan and US to materialize peace talks.
In an effort to help get the Afghan peace process back on track, and improve strained relations with Afghanistan, the Pakistani government freed a group of seven Taliban detainees on Saturday in accordance to requests made by President Hamid Karzai last month during his trip to Islamabad.
Previously, Pakistan had released twenty-six Taliban detainees. To push forth the Afghan reconciliation process, Pakistan has released seven Taliban detainees; namely Mansoor Dadullah, Said Wali, Abdul Manan, Karim Agha, Sher Afzal, Gul Muhammad and Muhammad Zai," according to a statement released by Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.
The releasing of the militants is expected to serve as a good-will measure to impel Taliban to come to the negotiating table open to compromise. Moreover, with recent speculation regarding divisions existing within the Taliban itself – some hardliners are refusing to negotiate while other more moderate members are pushing for talks – the release of certain top leaders would hopefully encourage better coordination and consensus-building.
An official from the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered the following comment in response to the news of the release: "The Afghan government welcomes the release of these Taliban prisoners, which is a positive but small step by the Pakistani government in support of our peace efforts in Afghanistan. We expect additional and more significant steps by Pakistan in the future, steps that Pakistani leaders can easily take if they so decide, including the release of Mullah Beradar and other senior Taliban leaders currently in Pakistani jails."
When President Karzai made the request for the releases last month in Islamabad, he and his officials pushed for the release of Baradar, who is considered the Taliban's second most senior leader. However, while the Pakistani government announced the recent releases as a sign of their commitment to helping Kabul in the peace process, they were unwilling to oblige the freeing of Baradar. According to reports, negotiations over his release are ongoing though unlikely as the U.S. has major concerns about the potential threat he may pose to its troops stationed in Afghanistan if he is turned-loose.
Mansoor Dadullah, who was reportedly released by the Pakistanis this week, is a key Taliban leader and brother of Mulla Dadullah Akhud, a former Taliban senior commander, who was killed by American and British troops in southern Afghanistan in 2007. Dadullah was arrested in Baluchistan by the Pakistani military forces in 2008.
Last month, President Karzai concluded a two-day visit to Pakistan where he attempted to bring Islamabad on board for peace talks with the Taliban and ease tensions ahead of Afghanistan's national elections early next year. With the reported release of the prisoners, it would seem at least that some agreement was reached on that trip. Whether or not the releases will have a positive impact on the peace process, however, is another issue entirely.
The release of Taliban inmate to soothe decade long Afghan conflicts is a positive sign ahead. Moreover, President Karzai asking for elemental role to play in the process is unattainable. The wise but impracticable demand Afghan government makes to have all cards with it, lingers the solution to Afghan peace drive. Afghan government lacks credibility and a reliable channel to chair and lead the peace talk with Taliban but relentlessly asks for Afghan-led peace drive, which is an acceptable move for some of the countries. On the other hand Taliban turn down the probability of any talk with current Afghan government labeling it a ‘puppet government’.
US and Pakistan are the two important contributors of the delayed peace talk that can carry forth the peace drive to a certain extent. The growing irreversible doubts instilled in Afghan government don’t let them work out a solution either. To bring the opposing factions of Taliban and Afghan government on table of negotiation a political office was set in Qatari’s capital Doha, where all the dissenting partners were to be made discuss their core issues and to promise way out to them. The peace talk was expected to take forth the peace talk to substantial degree of solution but Afghan government discarded to accept the status of Taliban’s Doha office alleging the name and flag of office and refused to send the member of Afghan High Peace Council (AHPC) either.
This very standing of Afghan government is laudable but with a penny in a pocket it doesn’t suit a person to go on demanding an article that is worth thousands. It is an unobjectionable reality that both US and Pakistan draw a friendly if not brotherly relationship with Taliban. Both the countries were the solitary supporters of Taliban during Russia’s aggression in Afghanistan in 1979 revolution. The ties between them are incorrigible by year’s long presence of large number of Taliban inmates in the Guantanamo bay in US and Pakistani cells. Seeing the future prospects and political role Taliban could play in Afghanistan post US withdrawal both the countries might have worked paving ways to build a relationship with some faction of moderate Taliban if not all hardliners.
Charging accusation and labeling criticism at one another might not help a way out to the issue, strengthening one’s political vision helps. It is a high time everyone accepts others role in the fixture. Making the use of one’s capability, expertise and workability to sort out an answer to one’s tribulations is manifestation of wisdom to be displayed. The peace talks pivoted on element of suspicion can’t lead to fruition unless a huge magnitude of trust is installed in the existing troubled undertakings.