Islamabad ( AsiaNews
/ Agencies) - Islamabad has begun tentative peace talks with the Taliban. During
this first meeting, the representatives of the executive and the delegation of
Tehreek - e-Taliban Pakistan ( TTP ) are drawing up a roadmap that will dictate
the time and manner of dialogue. The
struggle launched by Islamic extremists against the military, the institutions
and the civilian population of the country began in 2007 and registered
progressive waves of violence. In recent
weeks there have been numerous and targeted attacks that have left hundreds
dead or wounded. However,
last week the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that "peace talks will go
forward."
The
escalation has prompted some analysts to speculate a vast military operation
against Taliban strongholds in the tribal areas of northern Pakistan, but a frontal
military attack does not seem the preferred option of the executive, which prefers
the path of dialogue to achieve a permanent ceasefire. Moreover
there are many who think - including policy experts, intellectuals and citizens
- that the dialogue will only " strengthen " the TTP position.
Maulana
Sami ul -Haq - known as the "father of the Taliban", one of the
members of the delegation involved in the negotiations - said that these
initial meetings will serve to outline a first "ceasefire" between
the government and militants. He
adds the condition is necessary for the peace process itself and that his party
has not made any formal demands ahead of talks. Although many claim that an essential
condition for peace is the introduction of sharia , or Islamic law , throughout
Pakistan.
The government however,
still has some doubts regarding the Taliban delegation, which is made up of
people from "outside" the movement, with a more "political"
component believes in a "peaceful struggle for Islamic rule". It
remains to be seen whether they truly represent the soul of the Taliban, that has
waged a bloody war for years and seems unwilling to reach a peace agreement. "
Let us have no illusions details - confirmed Rahimullah Yusufzai , a leading
exponent of the executive front - we know that will it is a great
challenge."
To
everyone's surprise, last week the Prime Minister Sharif announced the
continuation of talks. In
a speech to Parliament, he added that terrorism must be defeated by words or by
force, and that he was willing to "give peace a last chance". Pressure
is growing on the government to put a stop to the violence and extremist adrift
.
For
some time the civilian population of Pakistan has been calling for decisive
action to bring peace and security to a country exasperated by the logic of
violence and conflict of a religious background. In
a peaceful march
of the "white flags" recently in Faisalabad , hundreds of people
have proposed a "third way" : dialogue with the militants but hit
hard anyone who pursues the logic of violence . In
late January, the
Pakistani Catholic Church promoted a day of prayer to remember all the
victims of terrorism.