The TTP’s bid for political legitimacy may fail due to a lack of trust

Photo: Collected

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s continued bidding to enter the political mainstream in Pakistan may face setbacks as some experts think the banned group will hurt and narrow political spaces for the country’s citizens. it’s like they agree to lay down arms. To “achieve political legitimacy”, the TTP recently praised the Federal Shariat Court’s order on the government to implement an Islamic, interest -free banking system within five years. Islamabad has agreed to hold new talks with the group under the leadership of the Taliban interim government. “Through its political statements, the TTP appears to be preparing its troops to work within the framework of the country’s constitution,” he said while calling the efforts an attempt to reposition the group in line with its agenda. For experts and victims of the violence perpetrated by the TTP during its reign of terrorism, it is very difficult to trust the militant component, as some questions about the future of the talks and its possible impact remain unanswered. The main reason behind this trust deficit is the fact that the militant group has backtracked on the promises it made in several rounds of talks in exchange for peace in the tribal districts since the TTP was established in December 2007 and their downfall remained unaddressed, Dawn reported. After the Afghan Taliban captured Kabul in August 2021, the unexpected exit of US-led Nato forces gave new life to the group, as the latter reorganized itself and Islamabad also agreed to conduct new talks with the group under the patronage of the Taliban interim government. According to local media sources, the main demand raised from the banned TTP is the reversal of the annexation of the ex-Fata region to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a bid to gain political legitimacy by cash in on the political issues, Dawn reported. The request for the reversal of the merger could be a shared goal of the TTP, some political forces, and those with “anti-reform views”, Dawn added. Moreover, the TTP recently praised the Federal Shariat Court’s order to the government to implement an Islamic, interest -free banking system within five years. “Raising the voice against an interest-based economy is commendable,” said a statement released to the media on July 8, as the TTP took the narrative of Pakistan’s religious parties campaigning against the interest-based economy. for decades. The former Fata was merged with KP through the 25th Amendment in 2018 and contains seven tribal agencies and six frontier regions. In a statement for Dawn, the Peshawar -based political commentator, Dr Khadim Hussain said the Kabul jirga in June which also had representation from political elements helped “refine” the TTP’s demands as it sent “message that an agenda unconstitutional may not be achievable.” “Recent NSC [National Security Committee] The meetings also suggested openness on the part of the establishment to streamline the TTP, ”he said, adding that there was a willingness on the part of some elements in the TTP leadership to be open to mainstreaming and could also take part in elections. and even formally join the ranks of the security forces as was done in the case of Swat.Dr Hussain further pointed out the violence perpetrated by the terror outfit across Pakistan that the government cannot make peace with the militant element while ignoring the victims of their violence and criticized the Shehbaz government for negotiating with the TTP.Earlier, the TTP announced on June 2 an “indefinite ceasefire” because of the “substantial progress” made in the negotiations. talks with the Pakistani government at a round of meetings in Kabul.The announcement comes after a 50-member Pakistani tribal jirga-including a federal minister, representatives from the KP government, and tribal elders – joined the peace talks. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, Pakistan has increasingly complained of border attacks from Afghanistan, an issue that has been a source of diplomatic tension. Experts in the region say the rise of the TTP enabled by the strong support of the Afghan Taliban will widen the threat of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including against civilian targets. Since its inception in 2007, the TTP has emerged as the most influential and violent anti-Pakistan terrorist outfit in South Asia. Unlike its Afghan namesake, the TTP does not enjoy favorable relations with Islamabad. Source: ANI