Taliban set terms to cease fire

ISLAMABAD: The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has made a conditional ceasefire offer to the Pakistan Government which envisages an end to Pakistan’s participation in the Afghan war and the reshaping of the Constitution and foreign policy according to the Quran and Sunnah.

The offer was made to this correspondent in a letter sent by Punjab TTP Amir Asmatullah Muawiya and was endorsed by the spokesman of the TTP Ehsanullah Ehsan in a telephonic call from an unknown place.

The letter calls for repeal of all laws in Pakistan which are repugnant to Islam and says the Constitution should be re-written in the light of the Quran and Sunnah.

Ehasnullah Ehsan in his telephonic message to this correspondent after the TTP proposal was received said it had the full backing of the TTP and it should be considered as the TTP position.

The letter says TTP was dragged into a war with Pakistan from the Afghanistan and Kashmir fronts and the government and the army were responsible for this.

The war with the TTP was started by the army and they are only defending themselves which is their religious right, the TTP letter said.

It said any religious scholar will confirm that the defence of dignity, self-respect, life, property and faith was the right of every Muslim and fighting for this right is called Jehad.

The TTP said the Pakistan Army should become a “Pure Islamic Army” and not act as mercenaries for America.

“Instead of taking out guns against Muslims (Ahle Islam), the Pakistan Army should prepare to take revenge for the 1971 war (with India). This will also add the potential of Kashmiri mujahideen to our forces,” the TTP said.

The TTP letter revealed that it was not targeting the Jamaat-e-Islami and JUI of Maulana Fazlur Rehman but these parties should also revise their positions and statements.

It said the TTP had taken a quiet approach towards the PML-N and Tehrik-e-Insaf but the ANP had sold itself for the glitter of American dollars. The MQM, the letter claimed, had also adopted a similar position.

“If the ANP changes its policies and apologises for its past mistakes, the TTP is prepared to forgive them,” the TTP statement said.

The Taliban letter said Pakistan was its country and “we love its streets and even plains and deserts but we cannot sacrifice our faith for this love.”

The TTP letter said any fresh operation in North Waziristan would be a failure as America with its 42 allies has not been able to achieve any success. “If we are attacked even those who are now away from the fighting will take up arms and many more fronts will open,” the TTP said. The TTP said now the Government of Pakistan should decide what it wanted to do.

The letter asked this correspondent to convey the TTP message to the Pakistani nation.