Maulana Sami ul Haq: America Is Sabotaging Negotiations

Maulana Sami ul Haq, leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (S), has urged Nawaz Sharif to ask the army if it is in favor of discussions with the Taliban or not. He said that Sharif should resist pressure from the U.S. and stand firm in his intent to conduct discussions with the Taliban; he should muster the courage and daring to put an end to drone attacks.

Haq said that the U.S. is conspiring to sabotage the discussions being planned between the Taliban and Pakistan; the attack on Wali-ur-Rehman was part of this conspiracy. Bullets and guns will not help solve problems but rather only increase them. Haq added that Wali-ur-Rehman, who was killed in a U.S. drone attack, was a person who had opposed suicide attacks and terrorist activities and was also in favor of discussions with Pakistan. But when the time came for discussions to start between the Taliban and Pakistan, the U.S. sabotaged the process with its drone attack. He said that it was extremely urgent that Sharif find out whether the army is in favor of conducting discussions with the Taliban or if it has some reservations about this, for discussions need to be started as soon as possible and a strategy shaped for the future.

Haq said that America itself conducts discussions with the Taliban, so why should it be upset when Pakistan wants to do so? Only discussion, he said, is the answer to problems; nothing is solved by the use of bullets. Expressing intense grief and anger over the drone attacks, Haq further said that at a time when the newly elected leadership wished to resolve issues by means of discussions after taking charge and the nation was braced for the prospect of discussions, America and NATO forces issued a warning to Pakistani leaders by conducting fresh attacks, plunging the Pakistani nation and its leaders into a terrible trial.

He said that the drone attacks targeted certain important individuals who would have shown maturity and political insight in negotiations and discussions. By its acts, the U.S. blocked the path of discussions when, just two days ago, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry himself described sitting at the discussion table as a more effective strategy than using guns.

Haq addressed federal, provincial and military powers to tell them that the challenge could not be put away any longer and had to be faced immediately. It was urgent to extricate the country from further participation in a foreign war and to seek a path to peace for the country; if this was not done, unrest, destruction and ruin would further intensify in the country and prevent the new government from taking steps to fulfill their promises with regard to averting the energy, economic and other crises facing the country. He said that the whole nation is in a state of shock regarding the recent drone attacks. The new governments should voice strong protests and make this problem their first priority after taking oath.