Tehreek-e-Taliban

[Statement] Pakistan: Grave Concerns on the Reemergence of Pakistan Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban (Bangkok/Kathmandu, 9 September 2022) - The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply concerned about the lack of transparency and the exclusion of civil society in the ongoing ‘peace’ talks between the Government of Pakistan and the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) Pakistan, al. [...] Although the civilian leadership and the local communities primarily bore the brunt of TTP’s gross human rights violations in the region, they have been systematically excluded from the peace talks. [...] The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 has bolstered the outlawed TTP, followed by the sudden rise of the Pakistan Taliban in the Malakand division and other districts of erstwhile FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). [...] The growing militancy and rising violence in the region have heightened fear and self-censorship amongst the civil society groups and media in the region. [...] The government must stop alienating the voices of the people from the region and address their demand for accountability, peace, justice, and security while negotiating with TTP.