The immediate reaction of Taliban sympathisers to Sunday’s church bombing was to term it as a ‘plot against peace talks‘. Such obvious excuse making and covering up has received a much deserved response of mockery and disgust from both liberals and conservatives in the country as it is yet another conspiracy theory. But since the jihadis and their media representatives have brought up the topic, let us take a moment to discuss the other plot against peace talks. You know, the one that really exists.
Last month I asked is Nawaz Sharif was being cornered by the ISI/Jihadi network in Kashmir in a sequel to the Kargil disaster that ended up toppling his government over a decade ago. In that post, I noted the public statements of both Lashkar-e-Taiba and United Jihad Council threatening a surge in attacks in Kashmir. True to their word, jihadi militants have been carrying out attacks in Kashmir, most recently attacking a police station and Indian military officers. The result? Unsurprisingly, there are now calls for a suspension of peace talks between Pakistan and India.
Militants dressed in Indian army uniforms have killed eight people in attacks on an Indian police station and army base near the Pakistan border, sparking calls to cancel talks between the nations’ leaders at the weekend.
Where are the bold headlines condemning this plot against peace talks? Where are all of the newly minted pacifists we see on TV telling that violence can never succeed against such an intractable foe, and that negotiations and compromise are the only way to secure the national interest?
When those who demand peace talks with TTP are silent on the subject of armed violence in Kashmir, the message is clear. They are not opposed to armed violence, they are opposed to stopping militants.
