Negotiating Peace – Dealing with Taliban: Current Status and Options

A roundtable seminar titled “Negotiating Peace – Dealing with the Taliban: Current Status and Options” was held in IPS on November 12, 2013. The event was chaired by Prof. Khurshid Ahmed and its main speakers included Ambassador (R) Ayaz Wazir, Ambassador (R) Asif Ezdi, Brig. (R) Said Nazir, Dr. Azmat Hyat Khan and Hassan Khan. It was attended by a number of security experts, concerned officials, and researchers.

The discussants highlighted diverse viewpoints on the mechanism and options for dealing with the Taliban.

Brig. (R) Said Nazir discussed the military option for dealing with the Taliban, its cost and implications, and concluded that military cost was unbearable for Pakistan. Thus the government needs to introduce social, political and economic reforms in the area to deal with the issue.

 Ambassador (R) Asif Ezdi discussed the legality of drones strikes in Pakistan’ tribal areas and concluded that the official status of drones was ambiguous as it was clearly a violation of international and humanitarian law.

Ambassador (R) Ayaz Wazir suggested that an effective mechanism of dealing with the Taliban should be adopted.

Dr. Azmat Hyat Khan discussed the regional implication of dealing with Taliban and focused on the chaos that can erupt after the withdrawal of United States from Afghanistan.

The last speaker Hassan Khan specifically focused on the role of media as well as its responsibility viz a viz dealing with such sensitive issues and overall stability and peace process in the country.

A detailed report on the seminar proceedings will be published shortly