Talks with Talibans impossible

by Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
September 23, 2010

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/999/talks-with-talibans-impossible

After the return of US forces from Pakistan, reports have surfaced that Afghan Taliban have agreed for negotiation with the United States and its allies which would also provide the Americans with an opportunity to get out of the troubled Afghanistan in an 'honorable way'. In this regard Pakistan army is in contact with Haqqani Network, a powerful and militant Taliban faction and the initial talks have begun but denying such reports insiders in Mullah Omer-led Taliban said that Afghan Taliban would never agree for talks until the 'foreign aggressors' did not leave Afghanistan.

Pakistan has chosen, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the functional head of Haqqani network for talks but despite his strong position in the southeast of Afghanistan he could not initiate such talks as he does not represent Kandahari Taliban the elitist of all militants. Mullah Omer Mujahid, the head of Afghan Taliban belongs to southwest of Afghanistan and when it comes to make any big decision Mujahid only relies on people representing this area. Haqqani network with more than 12,000 well-trained militants and well equipped with weaponry, enjoy stronghold in Afghanistan.

Interestingly but not strangely the headquarters of the network in located at Dande Darpakhel village in North Waziristan agency. This network is very strong in Khost, Paktika, Paktia, Logar and Ghazni provinces of Afghanistan, while in Pakistan, North Waziristan is considered to be its stronghold. The head of the Haqqani Network is Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani, a notorious Jihadist, in his late 60s, belongs to Zadran tribe that lives on both sides of the Durand line and is included in Taliban main Shura. Jalaluddin Haqqani is old now, so the operational command of the network is in the hands of his elder son Sirajuddin Haqqani.

During the last year and so, Pakistan is under tremendous pressure to launch a military operation against Haqqani network in North Waziristan but the military assault did not take place as Pakistan always termed Haqqani as 'valuable asset' who could help Pakistan especially if the US brokered any agreement with Afghan Taliban.

If Afghan Taliban brokered any agreement with the US it would be very useful for Pakistan. Pakistan Taliban [PT] and other Jihadist factions like Lashkari Jhangvi etc will stop attacking Pakistani security forces; majority of militants leaders would immediately shift to Afghanistan. For the militants, whose desperate souls always look for blood, the ultimate war field will be Kashmir in India that would also serve 'another' Pakistani interest. All the Jihadists are of the view that "Jihad will continue till doomsday" and always they want a battlefield for their activities so for them the possible future destinations would be Kashmir in India or Palestine.

Currently they have waged 'holy war' against American-led NATO forces in Afghanistan and Pakistani security forces inside Pakistan. But such agreement between Afghan Taliban and the US is not possible, as Afghan Taliban are in 'no mood' of talks. They are of the view that US and its allies are near to meet defeat in Afghanistan and no one negotiates with 'losing party'. Such talks could risk Taliban leaders in losing their commandership as history of Afghanistan clearly shows that militants labelled their negotiating leaders as traitors and puppets and turn their weapon towards them. If Pakistan involves Haqqani network in talks it could not work. It should be clear that all Talibans term Mullah Omer as Amriul Momineen [Supreme leader of all true Muslims] and Sirajuddin Haqqani could not remain as leader of Taliban in the country without the support of Afghan Taliban's reclusive leader. Such independent move can risk Jalaluddin losing control over his men; he is strong as he is a representative of Mullah Omer in the area. Haqqani network is having soft corner for Pakistan but rest of the Afghan Taliban are reluctant to rely on Pakistan, especially after the recent arrest of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy of mullah Omer, from Karachi. For Al-Qaeda all high-strung areas are safe and sound where they enjoy their freedom and even the Arab militants do not want rest in Pakistan.

Such negotiation process would certainly reach the position of Al-Qaeda not only in Afghanistan but also in Pakistan. Neither mullah Omer would allow the Al-Qaeda members to be stranded nor would the Arabs and other non-locals agree to surrender or become part of any other plan. There are also some reports that Pakistani army chief General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiani during his recent visit to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia held meetings with King Abdullah and Intelligence Chief Prince Muqrin Bin Abdul Aziz and discussed the issue of 'the rehabilitating of Osama Bin Ladin and other Saudi citizens' and to 'arrange refugee status' for other al-Qaeda members. At the same time the head of Pakistan's Inter Service intelligence was sent to Obama administration in Washington with a proposal of shifting Al-Qaeda from Afghanistan to Saudi Arabia. This plan apparently seems impossible to be implemented; neither the Saudi government could agree to rehabilitate these militants nor did the Al-Qaeda members agreed to live in Saudi Arabia. Al-Qaeda has ruled Taliban on both sides of Durand Line whether they are in Pakistan or in Afghanistan. From such a dominant position they would never agree to go back to Arabia. While King Abdullah's government will also think twice to make such a decision, as it is in the plan of Al-Qaeda to topple the current Saudi government.

In current scenario it seems almost impossible that Taliban would agree to any talks or to enter any form of deal with the US.

receive the latest by email: subscribe to weekly blitz's free mailing list