Pakistan Reader# 482, 20 December 2022
Bhoomika Sesharaj
On 19 December, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said that the US would offer “unconditional support” to Pakistan in its efforts to resist the TTP’s rising terrorism and other militant outfits and that challenging terrorism was a “shared goal” of both the countries. Price reiterated that the US pushes individuals responsible to “cease all acts of violence” and urged the militant outfits to end the “seizure” of the counter-terrorism department in Bannu in Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KP). This comes after talks between the government and the militants resulted in a stalemate even after lapses in the region for nearly 15 hours. Price emphasised that the US is a “partner” to Pakistan and that their assistance would be provided in situations similar to this and others that could affect the country externally.
Additionally, Price mentioned that the exchange between Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto and Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar resounded as an exchange between two of its “global strategic partners and that the two sides do not share a “zero-sum relationship” and “stand on their own.” He said that the US observes the importance of maintaining “valuable” partnerships with India and Pakistan and that both sides need to engage in “constructive dialogue.”
The deadlock between TTP and the government
Talks between the government and the militants who took over the Bannu Counter-Terrorsim Department (CTD) ended in a deadlock after police and security agencies in the area suspended schools, internet and mobile services in the area till 20 December. TTP, who claimed responsibility for the attack, said that they had “taken” CTD staff and officials hostage and that they demanded a “safe passage” to “shift the prisoners” to South or North Waziristan and said that they had not “received a positive response” as of yet. Special Assistant to the KP Chief Minister Muhammad Ali Saif responded to the claims of the TTP and said that the government had “engaged” the militants to “avoid casualties” and reiterated that the government would not “fulfil any demand of the terrorists.”
Saif said that the “beleaguered terrorists” desired the public’s sympathy through these demands and that it would be more efficient for the militants to “lay down” their weapons to avoid “strict action” by the government. (Anwar Iqbal, “US offers help with TTP threat, India rivalry,” Dawn, 20 December 2022, Wajid Ali Shah, “US expresses readiness to help Pakistan in tackling TTP threats,” The News International, 20 December 2022, Sirarjuddin, Tahir Khan, “‘No breakthrough’ in talks: Tense situation prevails in Bannu after militants seize CTD centre,” Dawn,19 December 2022)
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