If any demand of Taliban is accepted,it will mean surrender, says Sethi ‘Aapas Ki Baat on Friday

News Desk Sunday, September 15, 2013 From Print Edition LAHORE: Senior analyst Najam Sethi has said that the All Parties Conference on terrorism had created an impression that talks with the Taliban would be meaningful and there would be some development for peace. Talking in the Geo News programme ‘Aapas Ki Baat’ on Friday, Sethi said Nawaz Sharif was against a military operation. “Imran Khan and Maulana Fazlur Rehman also supported him. Zardari believed talks with the militants will be futile. The stance of the Army chief has also not changed. He continued to tell Zardari that the war on terror was Pakistan’s own and asked him to own it. But Zardari continued to tell him that he could not proceed without the support of Nawaz Sharif. Now the Army chief must have reiterated his stance in the meeting with Nawaz Sharif and the prime minister must have told him that terrorism was a big threat to the economy and it was an internal threat while the Indian threat was not permanent. He must also have told him that he would make a decision after taking the people into confidence,” he added. Sethi observed that Zardari, in his speech, had also said that it was necessary to root out terrorism. “It is to the advantage of Nawaz Sharif that he has the backing of the Army and Zardari. The ANP also stands by him. The only problem is Imran’s stance. Nawaz Sharif must have told the Army chief that let us start dialogue and military action can be launched, if needed. Imran has also reiterated that he was on board. Nawaz Sharif and the Army chief must have sought Imran’s commitment on advancing talks so that he could know who wanted them to succeed or fail. If talks fail, Imran will stand by the government and the army. Imran has also said an operation would be launched against those who wanted to disrupt dialogue. It is a change in his stance,” he added. Talking about possible demands of the Taliban, Sethi said it was a global principle that states do not talk to terrorists. “It is absurd to say we are talking to them because they are our people. Criminals are also our people but they are punished. Talks should not be held with terrorists. The Taliban will hand over a long list of demands, from the release of militants to compensation for their losses. If the government accepts a single demand of the Taliban, it will be a surrender and all terrorists and criminals will take up arms for the acceptance of their demands. The talks are mere eyewash and the last option will be a military operation. Baloch separatists are not terrorists. The Pakistani flag burns in some Balochistan areas but the Taliban want to burn the whole of Pakistan,” he concluded.