Taliban talks prospects dim

The army is said to have finally forced the government to crush militants after a series of negotiations with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) did not restore peace through talks. China reportedly is also exerting pressure to launch a crackdown on militants who, Beijing argues, have penetrated its restive Xinjiang province.
Following a military offensive against the militants, the sources hold little hope for any resumption of dialogue with the Taliban. Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif had soon after assumption of office had made it clear that the army would retaliate if it is targeted by the TTP and the recent attacks may be termed a move aimed at appeasing long-time friend China but are also a retaliatory measure against recent attacks by militants on the army personnel.
Minster for Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rashid Saturday told reporters that "there are few who do not want the dialogue process to continue, therefore, the government has decided to respond with full force where there is danger to Pakistan's integrity and security".
Well placed sources, however, maintain that there were differences of opinion between the civilian government and the military on the issue of talks with the Taliban from day one - the military warned that the militants may be buying time to regain their lost strength under the pretext of the dialogue process prior to launching fresh assaults against the country.
The army was also concerned about Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's intent to grant India Non-Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA) and this was the real reason behind the delay, analysts claim. Narendra Modi's electoral victory and his invitation to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend his swearing-in ceremony took the establishment by surprise given Modi's unambiguous views on Pakistan which, these analysts argue, accounted for the delay in the Prime Minister's decision to accept the invite. Shahbaz Sharif's visit to the GHQ may have eased establishment concerns in this regard which was followed by the announcement that Nawaz Sharif would go to New Delhi.