Backchannel Talks Between Government and PTI Resumed Amid Political Tension

Islamabad:Backchannel negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which had paused a few weeks ago amidst the formal talks process, have now resumed and entered a critical phase.

A well-informed source revealed that two senior PTI leaders, Barrister Gohar and Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur, held a secret meeting with three influential figures in Islamabad on Monday. The location of the meeting was Islamabad, not Rawalpindi. However, the government and PTI have neither confirmed nor denied the meeting’s occurrence. Barrister Gohar, when contacted, denied such a meeting took place, but the source insisted that the meeting was of significant importance.

It is believed that these backchannel meetings will continue, with the next session expected to include one federal minister and two senior PTI officials. The outcome of these talks is seen as pivotal, as it largely depends on PTI’s future policies and political approach. For these negotiations to yield results, PTI must embrace the system and move away from confrontational and conflict-driven politics.

Before this latest backchannel meeting, a senior PTI leader had met with a federal minister and a senior official in the third week of December. A source had earlier indicated that PTI was sent a message that if they continued their policy of tension, violence, criticism of the military and its leadership, and actions damaging to the economy, the talks would not succeed. However, if the party opts for reconciliation, it will need to bring about a clear shift in its policies and break away from its past few years’ political approach.

The source emphasized that the ultimate decision rests with Imran Khan. If PTI seeks political legitimacy and intends to return to conventional politics, it must cease confrontations with the military and its leadership and avoid any actions that could harm the national economy. The future and success of these backchannel talks depend on PTI’s confidence-building measures.

The source further noted that signs of a departure from the policies of the past two and a half years would help PTI gain much-needed political stature. Though this change may not be immediate, it will grow gradually and sustainably. However, if the party continues its strategy of tension politics, criticizing the military, and taking actions harmful to the economy, PTI will face difficulties.

Backchannel communications remained active during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and PTI’s protest march in Islamabad on November 24. PTI had announced a protest at D-Chowk during the SCO summit. However, after discussions through backchannel talks, doctors from PIMS were allowed to examine Imran Khan in jail.

Initially, PTI had requested that Imran Khan’s personal doctor at Shaukat Khanum Hospital conduct the examination, but an agreement was reached in the backchannel discussions to allow PIMS doctors to meet Imran Khan in exchange for PTI calling off their protest at D-Chowk during the SCO summit.

Subsequently, these backchannel communications became active again when PTI announced its final call for the Islamabad march on November 24. Based on these negotiations, some PTI leaders, including Ali Amin Gandapur, Barrister Gohar, and Barrister Saif, were granted permission to meet with Imran Khan. However, Imran Khan insisted on his immediate release from jail. He had also agreed to the government’s proposal to halt the protest in Sangjani, a suburb of Islamabad.

However, Bushra Bibi led the march to D-Chowk, and the events of November 26 marked a turning point. The incidents on November 26 significantly disrupted the backchannel negotiations, leading to the suspension of formal talks between the government and PTI.