A setback to PTI amid backchannel talks effort

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders engaged in the revival of backchannel talks have been frustrated by a recent aggressive post on X from the party's official account targeting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.

Informed sources say the aggressive tweet and some other contentious material have been shared with them. This development serves as a setback to the PTI, which continues to seek dialogue with the establishment while simultaneously running an anti-military campaign and personally attacking the army chief.

The reaction to the post has reportedly troubled the PTI leaders who, with the consent of jailed party founder Imran Khan, are still pushing for reconciliation through informal talks. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan are said to be aware of these latest developments.

Both Gandapur and Gohar have previously been engaged in backchannel discussions and are now reportedly making renewed efforts to establish communication with the powers that be. However, within the PTI, there is growing recognition that this dual approach of seeking dialogue while attacking the establishment cannot work.

Attempts have been made to persuade Khan to soften the party's tone against the establishment on social media, but he has not done so. Many senior PTI leaders disagree with this confrontational strategy but feel powerless to change it.

"We cannot expect any relief while continuously attacking those from whom we seek it," a senior PTI leader admitted on condition of anonymity.

The military, for its part, has maintained that it will not engage in political discussions and insists that political parties should resolve their issues through dialogue among themselves. Army chief recently dismissed reports of receiving a letter from Khan, stating that even if such a letter arrived, he would forward it to the prime minister rather than read it.

His remarks came after Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 on multiple charges ranging from corruption to terrorism, wrote his third open letter to the COAS.

Recently, PTI leaders Gandapur and Barrister Gohar met COAS General Munir, sparking speculation about possible political discussions. However, government and security sources insisted that the meeting was unscheduled and focused solely on security matters.

While Khan reportedly saw the meeting as the beginning of a dialogue with the establishment, Barrister Gohar remained cautious, telling the media that only security-related issues were discussed.

Some media reports suggested a follow-up meeting between the PTI representatives and establishment figures, but there has been no official confirmation of such an engagement.

Originally published in The News