Re: Why cry over the death of our worst enemy?
Brother, your thinking is nice and positive. Anyhow, I believe that most of what you wrote is based on illusive beliefs. I only wish that you are right in thinking that TTP would get satisfied with what Pakistan can offer them, regardless of that is appropriate for Pakistan or not.
You are right to assume that drones have made them vulnerable all the time and obviously drones must be haunting TTP leadership even when they are sleeping. Anyhow, just think:
1: If Taliban agree to become law abiding citizen, and stop using Pakistani soil for their wars outside Pakistan, then drones would stop anyhow. So, surety against drones is meaningless for TTP unless it stops while they can keep doing what they do (create fitna and fasad in Pakistan and abroad). Obviously, with their fitna and fasad on-going, drones could not stop even if it was in the hands of Pakistan to stop. Worse is that drones may stop once Americans would leave the area, but that stoppage would follow with Pakistan own bombings in the area to kill Taliban and their leadership (with probably higher civilian casualties).
2: FATA already has better financial package per head then rest of Pakistan. On the other hand, financial package was never demand of TTP (that has large number of elements from Punjab).
3: Compensation is not TTP demand … as they can loot and plunder at will, so have no shortage of funds. Anyhow, compensation for drone victims is fine as long as victims compensated are civilians, but if government would start compensating terrorists then that would backfire. It would be payment to those who killed and brought misery to innocent Pakistanis in thousands.
4: Infrastructure and hospitals: Again this is not TTP demand, rather they are blowing hospitals, schools and other infrastructure in FATA and even in settled areas.
5: TTP wants withdrawal of Pakistan army from their area of influence, but their this demands is to increase their fitna and fasad in the area using force, without getting challenged by armed forces. That demand would be useless if they would like to live within law of Pakistan.
6: Many people do not know (due to dishonesty of politicians and anchors on TV and other media), that Pakistan support to NATO forces in Afghanistan is not due to phone call or request from USA, but due to UN resolutions (1368, that asked all members to help eradicate terrorism from Afghanistan and later UN resolutions after UN resolution 1368).
Pakistan being member of UN has obligation to follow UN resolutions, as UN is body that gives protection to Pakistan in international arena. Even Pakistani border is recognised international border due to UN charter, including sea water and many other rights that Pakistan has in international laws. So, outright withdrawal of support from ‘war against terrorism’ would make Pakistan guilty of not accepting UN resolutions and that means sanctions that Pakistan could not afford.
On the other hand, why Pakistan should withdraw logistic support Pakistan gives to war against terrorism in Afghanistan, as Pakistan is victim themselves, getting terrorized by TTP and other sectarian outfits, and need world help to fight these terrorists.
UN Resolution 1368 (on Sept 11 attack passed in UN on Sept 12, a day after the attack) on fighting terrorism, especially terrorism originating from Afghanistan (and USA called Pakistan to comply with UN resolution):
clause 3 of UN resolution 1368: Calls on all States to work together urgently to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these terrorist attacks and stresses that those responsible for aiding, supporting or harbouring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these acts will be held accountable;
On the other hand, it is impossible to imagine how a bunch of terrorists taking up arms against state (Pakistan) can dictate Pakistan national and international policies? If TTP can do that now, then tomorrow TTP again or another thugs like TTP would rise up to demand some other changes in Pakistan national and international policies.
7: Again, TTP has no such demand as they shown capability to attack prisons and get their arrested thugs released. On the other hand, if TTP can get their criminals released then what would stop any other armed thugs to ask for same?
The demands you put down that Pakistan can ask TTP terrorists is nothing that Pakistan should ask anyone. Rather, all what you mentioned should be state duty (not duty of thugs) to implement or use force to get it implemented, punishing those creating obstacle in implementation.
So, why Pakistan should beg Taliban for what is duty as well as right of Pakistan state? Do you mean Pakistan has become so weak that they could not force implementation of things that is duty of Pakistani state to implement, and thus have to beg Taliban for permission? If Pakistan is so weak, then why Taliban should care for Pakistan anyhow?
Even though I do not think Pakistan should make such demands … rather Pakistan demand should be asking TTP to throw their arms and surrender or get prepared to die … but even if Pakistan foolishly make such demands (as such demands would only encourage terrorists of every kind in Pakistan to expect surrender of Pakistan in front of their terrorism), i do not think TTP would accept any of Pakistan’s demand … let see the demands you put down and what Pakistan should really do about them.
1: Instead of asking TTP to end attacks, shouldn’t Pakistan make them end attacks?
2: Surety against foreigners using FATA as their base: Should Pakistan as state ask Taliban for that or use their own writ to make sure of that? … and if they are so incapable of establishing their writ, then what right they have to form government?
3: Protection for schools and other infrastructure: Is that duty of Taliban or Pakistan government?
4: Tribal elders? Or should it be state law, police and judiciary? … On the other hand, where is TTP standing in this respect, as they do not even respect tribal elders or even tribal laws and code of conduct.
5: TTP declaration: Is Pakistan as state a banana country that they need declaration and protection from thugs?
6: Why TTP should stand by a state who begs them … and that also against their own kind? Again, is it right for state to beg terrorist organisations to stand by state or at least do not help other terrorists?
7: Support for polio drive … Does Pakistan have to take TTP permission for polio drive in the country? Isn’t it a sad situation when state want permission from terrorist organisation to support them eradicate polio in the country?
If Taliban would become unarmed law abiding citizen, drones would not be problem anyhow. So, no need to talk on drones (we should remember that all drone strikes are happening with Pakistani consent anyhow).
As for Taliban shariah imposition, that is no-no, as their Shariah is neither Islamic nor acceptable to majority of Pakistanis (Sunni, Shia and others). Only a selected group of Deobandis and ahle-hadith may accept their deviant laws. On the other hand, it is unlikely TTP would accept Islamic laws that is acceptable to Pakistani Muslim.