By nominating individuals outside its core, the TTP expects to gain political mileage in more ways than one. By including mainstream politicians in its negotiation team, the TTP would hope to dent the perception that its demands are outside the Constitutional paradigm. By literally outsourcing its negotiating team, the TTP may be trying to climb high moral ground by creating a perception of the legitimacy and strength of their stance. Similarly, by allowing proxies, barring exceptions, to represent them, the TTP is shielding its inner core from potentionally deadly exposure. In case of any potential agreement that may not be entirely acceptable to it, the TTP Shura would always remain in control by using its veto powers. By including Imran Khan in its team, the TTP may be helping PTI adversaries to further strengthen their propaganda of labeling him Taliban Khan thus shrinking his political base and limiting it to KPK and FATA. The TTP move would also help them project their version on the international and national media through more acceptable mouthpieces in the likely scenario of the negotiations dragging on for months with several ups and downs. And, in case the negotiations fail, the TTP can easily shift blame on the government for failing to strike a peace deal with regular politicians and dent the growing public support for military action. Can an organization working out of caves and secret hideouts be expected to be so politically savvy to present a proposal that kills several birds with one stone? The FATA tribesmen are by and large extremely shrewd and wily and naturally learn the art of survival which others learn through special training. Having said that, the possibility of their sophisticated patrons coming up with such a brilliant tactical move should not be discounted. What can the PTI leadership do to revive its image of a centrist progressive party from an increasing perception of a Taliban mouthpiece reminds me of the question put to the great Australian fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee and his response. When asked how to improve the dead Faisalabad wicket, his response; ‘blow it up.’
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 17:22:11 +0000
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