The Pakistani government’s recent negotiations in the Northwest Frontier Province and the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan have sparked objections from U.S. military and intelligence officers. In the June 9 edition of THE WEEKLY STANDARD, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and I explained why the deals are a bad idea. Today’s Wall Street Journal reports that the Pakistani government, under pressure from the U.S. government, has suspended talks with the Taliban:
The problem is that the Pakistani government is not negotiating with “tribal elders” as is often repeated. The Pakistani government is negotiating with the likes of Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan and the Haqqani family in North Waziristan. These Taliban leaders are sworn to Mullah Omar and are allies of Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. The Pakistani government believes it can cut deals with these men, who have committed to fighting jihad in Afghanistan and have called for and supported strikes against the West. These agreements have failed in the past because the Taliban has no intention of abiding by the terms. The Wall Street Journal also misses another crucial point. There is no discussion on how the existing peace deals in Swat, Bajaur, Malakand, and Mohmand will be handled. Also, will the negotiations in Kohat and Mardan be cancelled? The Pakistani government has already signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in North Waziristan, according to a report in Pakistan’s Daily Times. The agreement was signed in February, prior to the election of the new Pakistani government. Will this deal be rescinded? The Taliban has fought pitched battles against the Pakistani military in North and South Waziristan over the past year, and has taken significant losses. This heavy fighting led to current negotiations. The Taliban will surely start fighting again if the peace agreements are scrapped.
