The Pakistani Taliban have made a negotiations offer to the government basically saying, accept peace on our terms or be ready to face more violence. The so-called TTP released a video to show that there are no differences between Hakimullah Mehsud and its other leader Waliur Rehman.
Rejecting any possibility of laying down arms, Mehsud called any such proposal "a joke", and averred that "we are Afgan Taliban and Afghan Taliban are us... We are with them and al Qaeda. We are even willing to get our head cut off for al Qaeda." The TTP also released a letter stating its terms of talks declaring, "we are against the democratic system because it is un-Islamic" and that the government "will have to rewrite the country's constitution according to Shariah in place of the present secular system."
The release of the letter has come close on the heels of three high profile attacks: a suicide bombing assault on the Peshawar airport-cum airbase; assassination of ANP leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour along with eight others; and kidnapping of 23 paramilitary forces men. Apparently, these attacks were planned to project an image of strengthen before making a talks offer. Notable in the letter is also an attempt to create a divide among the major political players as it says the TTP would attack the ANP and the MQM but would spare the JI and JUI-F while maintaining a "quiet approach" towards PML-N and PTI. Which is a challenge for these parties, particularly the JI and the JUI-F which have been saying the Pakistani Taliban are waging a war in this country only because of American presence in Afghanistan and also in reaction to drone strikes. Now that TTP has clearly stated that it has a political agenda for Pakistan and is against the constitution and the democratic system enshrined in it, they have no choice but to take an unambiguous position and defend the democratic system.
The timing of the offer is significant. The Afghan Taliban are engaged in serious negotiations with the Americans via intermediaries. At a recent meeting in Paris, the Taliban representatives indicated a willingness to share power in Afghanistan and also pledged to grant rights to women - whom they subjected to brutal suppression during their over five-year rule. The developments in Afghanistan seem to be at the back of the TTP's desire to follow suit. These militants may retain their ability to cause death and destruction but they face eventual weakening and isolation. It is also pertinent to recall here that the Afghan Taliban accepted the talks pre-condition laid down by the Western countries that they must make a clean break with al Qaeda. If the TTP militants still say they are willing to get their heads chopped off for al Qaeda (in fact al Qaeda type foreign fighters participated in the Peshawar airbase attack) that suggests they are alienated from the Afghan Taliban's main leadership.
The TTP cannot impose its version of Islamic rule on this society. Unlike Afghanistan which has been a largely underdeveloped tribal society mired in antiquated traditions, Pakistan is a much stronger and forward looking society. Its people have struggled long and hard for the realisation of their democratic aspirations. Armed individuals cannot impose their will and dictate changes to its political system. The only way for them to do that would be to win public mandate through elections. As far as the majority population is concerned, the Constitution is already in accord with the Islamic principles. There can be no negotiations with the TTP leaders unless and until they accept the Constitution and stop challenging the writ of the state.