Pak’s secret dealings with radicals

On November 7, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior notified that the government had lifted the ban on the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) “in the larger national interest” and in line with the “secret agreement” it had signed with the group on October 31. The notification read, “In exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (I) of Section 11U of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 (as amended), the federal government is pleased to remove the name of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan from the First Schedule of the said Act as proscribed organisation for the purpose of the said Act.” Further, the minister stated that the notification was issued at the Punjab government’s request.

This deal came following violent protests by the TLP, who called for the release of its chief Saad Rizvi. Previously, on November 3, the Punjab Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, as a part of confidence-building measures after the federal government-TLP agreement, deliberated on a plan to remove the proscribed title from the TLP.

On 8 November, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced that a complete ceasefire had been reached between the government and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The minister stated that talks between the government and the TTP were underway, stating that, “The state’s sovereignty, national security, peace in relevant areas and social and economic stability will be considered during the talks.” Additionally, he added that the interim Afghan government had facilitated the negotiations. This announcement came after Prime Minister Imran Khan had stated that the government was in talks with some TTP groups, in order to seek reconciliation.

Pak’s negotiating strategy
In the recent past, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has had a challenging time trying to address the issues concerning the TLP and the TTP. With numerous rounds of ‘secret negotiations’ with both groups, the PTI government has reached the deals amid severe criticism and problematic agreements.

Firstly, the PTI kept the negotiations secret. The talks with both the TLP and TTP were held in private, with minimum details about the agreements in public. With the TLP, the government refused to share the contents of the secret deal, except for announcing that the group would be allowed to contest the elections. The case was similar with the TTP, where neither the terms were known nor was it clear who was leading from the government’s side.

Secondly, the PTI’s approach was unilateral. Both agreements were reached without any kind of parliamentary debate or involvement of the opposition. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, critical of the PTI government’s approach, stated that the policies drafted without taking parliament into confidence lacked “legitimacy,” arguing that the government could not take “unilateral decisions” when it came to talks and agreements made with the TLP.

Thirdly, the PTI was criticised for appeasing extremists. Although there is little information on the negotiations, the TLP and the TTP seem to have had the upper hand in negotiations. The two groups have at multiple times managed to succeed in twisting the hands of the government in order to achieve their demands. It is this policy of appeasement that has hugely empowered such groups.

Steep price to be paid
Although the PTI government has managed to calm the storms, this will likely be short-lived for three reasons.

First, backfire from the unilateral approach. Given that it is easier for a government to hold talks with extremist groups than the opposition parties, the lack of the same will only come back to haunt the PTI. It is crucial that the government take both its citizens as well as other political parties in the country into confidence so that consensus can be built on such issues.

Second, TLP and TTP are no longer buds that can be nipped. Both the groups have grown substantially over the recent past; thus, the cost that will be paid will be larger if the matter is not dealt with wisely.
Third, the TLP-TTP nexus — although the two groups are not entirely similar, there seems to be a mutual understanding between the two. 

Previously, in April 2021, the TTP extended its support to the TLP’s countrywide protests, stating, “We stand by those who sacrificed their lives for the honour of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) in this hour of grief, and pay tribute to their honour and remind the military forces of their worth. We reassure them that we will take account of every drop of bloodshed of these martyrs.” This proximity should be concerning for the government.

 (Abigail Miriam Fernandez is with the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru)