Pakistan-TTP

While Pakistan is bearing the brunt of terrorist attacks emanating from Afghanistan, the threat is wider. Regional and global peace is in peril.

While security concerns are important, the strategy is not security-centric but pays equal attention to diplomatic, political and economic engagement.

The SCO summit provided Pakistan with an opportunity to bring its concerns to a forum that includes its neighbors, key allies, and adversaries, such as China, Russia, and India.

Angry with the Taliban regime for not helping it against the TTP, the Pakistani government is lashing out at Afghan refugees.

In addition to deploying military force against militants, it will engage local communities and build economic opportunities to create jobs.

If Kabul is able to get the TTP to call off its spring offensive, Islamabad would respond with deals on travel and trade.

Pakistan will be wary of becoming a staging post for U.S. counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan as this would worsen its already testy ties with the Taliban regime.

Worryingly, the Pakistan government is engaging the militant group in talks from a position of weakness.

The TTP wants Pakistani troops to pull out of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and release its fighters in government custody.