Military force last resort for Sharif as Taliban refuse to negotiate

The refusal of the Pakistani Taliban to start talks with the government, and its unabated attacks on security forces, could force the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resort to the use of force as an option to finally resolve the insurgency problem that has plagued Pakistan for many years.

Since he took office in June, Sharif has categorically said that he would initiate a dialogue with the Taliban in order to end the wave of terrorism in the country that has claimed the lives of some 40,000 security personnel and civilians.

But he also said that he would not discount the use of force if the dialogue did not work.

Army chief General Raheel Sharif recently reiterated support for the government’s peace process, but at the same time emphasized that terrorist attacks will not be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly.

This month, Sharif reiterated the dialogue proposal when he presided over a meeting with top military and civilian officials to review a new national security policy with negotiation with the militants as the main component.

But the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan was quick to reject the fresh dialogue offer, dashing hopes for peace talks. The Taliban spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, said the group will not talk to what he called a “powerless” government and that they will continue their armed campaign.

The Taliban rejection of dialogue means the government could pursue the other option — to go after the armed groups in North Waziristan, the Taliban’s last stronghold where they plan attacks inside Pakistan and also across the border into Afghanistan.

Security officials believe that Pakistani and foreign militants and remnants of alQaida have turned North Waziristan into their main stronghold where they plan attacks in the country and Afghanistan.

Several would- be suicide bombers arrested recently have said they received their training in North Waziristan.

Pakistan has also been under mounting pressure by the United States to act against the militants in North Waziristan, the focus of drone attacks. But Pakistan has so far resisted the pressure to mount a massive attack on the pretext that thousands of security forces are already involved in other tribal regions and that they cannot open a new front. There has also been no political support for another military action.

A deadly Taliban suicide attack on a major fort for the security forces in North Waziristan on Wednesday, which killed five soldiers and injured more than 30, prompted the army’s strong reaction to the militants.

Military officials said that some 30 militants, including 10 Uzbek fighters, were killed in retaliation. The Taliban-linked Ansar-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attack to avenge the killing of Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who was eliminated in a US drone strike on Nov 1.

The Taliban’s continued attacks are likely to increase political support for military action in North Waziristan. However, Islamic groups have opposed the use of force, and called for negotiations.