The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — which has claimed responsibility for many of the brazen attacks across the country in recent years — has offered to negotiate with the government but only on its own terms. This offer was made through letters sent to a couple of local journalists on Wednesday.
The conditional ceasefire offer, according to The News , is subject to Pakistan withdrawing its support for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan and agreeing to draft a new Constitution as per the Koran and Sunnah . The Army should become a “pure Islamic Army” and not act as mercenaries for the U.S.
“Instead of taking out guns against Muslims, the Pakistan Army should prepare to avenge the 1971 war with India,” the letter stated, adding that the Kashmiri mujahideen would also add to the military’s forces.
The letter also makes clear the TTP’s political foes.
Rejecting the allegations that the TTP had a role in attacks on the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (F), the letter said the Awami National Party (ANP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) could be granted amnesty if they gave up their pro-U.S. positions.
Last week — while claiming responsibility for the assassination of ANP leader Bashir Bilour — the TTP had said that the ANP, MQM and Pakistan Peoples Party would be targeted again.
In the letter, the TTP also made it clear that it has no quarrel with either Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) or cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Meanwhile, late evening reports from the frontier areas claimed that three security personnel were killed and 22 had gone missing after terrorists attacked Levies headquarters and checkpoints.
