As the government of Pakistan continues to negotiate with the Taliban, it has ramped up its public relations effort to sell the talks to the West. In Sunday’s Boston Globe, Nadeem H. Kiani, the Press Attaché for the Pakistani Embassy, assures us that there are no negotiations with terrorists or Taliban.
But the reality of the situation is that the Pakistani government has indeed negotiated with the Taliban. When you look at who the Pakistani government is negotiating with, the claims that only reconcilables are at the table are false. The Pakistani government cut a deal with Faqir Mohammed in Bajaur and the Malakand region. This freed Sufi Mohammed, one of the most dangerous Taliban leaders in Pakistan. The Pakistani government cut a deal with Mullah Fazlullah in Swat. The Pakistani government cut a deal with Omar Khalid in Mohmand. Hafiz Gul Bahadar, a Taliban commander in North Waziristan, was present at the signing of the February peace deal. Negotiations are underway with Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan, Tariq, the Taliban commander in Darra Adam Khel, and Maulvi Abdullah, a Taliban spokesman in Mardan. If that isn’t enough to disprove the claims of the Press Attaché for the Pakistani Embassy, then look no further than the deal cut with the Taliban in North Waziristan. The peace agreement has allowed al Qaeda fighters to remain in the tribal agency “as long as they pledge to remain peaceful.” The Pakistani government spun the peace negotiations in 2006 and early 2007 the exact same way — by claiming to negotiate with tribal leaders, and not the Taliban. They were dishonest then, and are being dishonest now.
