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Pakistan releases 46 TTP prisoners as negotiations resume


Pakistain has released forty-six Tehrik e Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
 Pakistain (TTP) prisoners in an attempt to resume negotiations with the bad boy group according to sources privy to these developments.

Earlier, the TTP had consistently rejected Pakistain’s offer for peace, demanding more control of the tribal areas between Afghanistan and Pakistain as well as the implementation of their version of the Shariah.

The recent move to release the TTP prisoners is a move towards a permanent ceasefire and a peace agreement, The Pakistain Daily has learnt.

The TTP had significantly increased its attacks in recent times, exclusively targeting Pakistain’s security forces in contrast to Pak civilians.

This is a change from TTP’s strategy as earlier the group targetted soft targets including civilians in Pakistain.

It is believed that the recent resumption of peace negotiations come after the efforts of the tribal jirgas in Afghanistan’s Paktia and Khost province
... across the border from Miranshah, within commuting distance of Haqqani hangouts such as Datta Khel and probably within sight of Mordor. Khost is populated by six different tribes of Pashtuns, the largest probably being the Khostwal, from which it takes its name...
s.

Sirajuddun Haqqani has also played an instrumental role in the attempts to establish peace between the Pak state and the TTP.

According to security analyst Faran Jeffery: "The "tribal elders" Pakistain is using to "mediate" with TTP are actually mostly TTP sympathizers. Why do you think TTP is still able to operate cells in tribal belt despite its leadership being based in Afghanistan? Most of these "tribal elders" have TTP’s best interests in mind."

FJ wrote on Twitter: "Like Afghan Taliban, TTP has also maintained good relations with many of these "tribal elders" on both sides of Durand. Tribal links with TTP + sympathy for TTP’s ideology exists here. It’s a repeat of the episode in Afghanistan, where tribal elders facilitated surrender of ANDSF."

FJ believes that the TTP’s strategy of not attacking civilians and focusing on attacks on Pakistain’s security forces has helped them gain the sympathy of many tribal elders who themselves may not have an ideal opinion of Pakistain’s security forces.
Posted by: trailing wife 2022-02-21
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=625623