Ceasefire with Tehreek triggers divide in the coalition government in Pakis

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced a ceasefire against the Tehreek-e-Taliban to end the conflict on the Afghan border region. But the ceasefire failed to stop terror attacks in Pakistan. Just a few hours ago, two people were killed in the firing of Pakistan police in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. The coalition government in Pakistan is suffering jolts from this ceasefire. There are internal clashes in the Shahbaz Sharif government over the ceasefire.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif sent former ISI chief Faiz Hameed to negotiate a ceasefire with Tehreek leaders. Tehreek imposed a ceasefire consenting to the demand of the Pakistan government. For this, Tehreek leaders presented their demands to the Pakistan government. The Pakistan government has avoided commenting on this.

But the Pakistani media are pointing out that despite the ceasefire with Tehreek, the attacks on soldiers and violence have not stopped in the regions near the Afghan border. 66 people were killed in the violence in May, before the ceasefire. But 102 people were killed in terror attacks in June while the ceasefire was in force. As per the Pakistani agencies, the number of soldiers killed in these attacks has doubled.

In the meantime, Tehreek reminded the Pakistan government of their demands. Tehreek leaders have clarified that even if the ceasefire with the Pakistan government is successful, they will not retreat on their demands. Tehreek leaders announced they were firm on the merger of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Pakistan’s government is not willing to accept this Tehreek demand. This is because Pakistan will have to let go of FATA and Waziristan province in that scenario. The concern of the Pakistan government is that Tehreek may claim rights over some other regions in the coming times. Pakistan Peoples’ Party, a coalition partner in the Shahbaz Sharif government, has criticised the government over the ceasefire with Tehreek.