Pak army at loggerheads with govt. over failure to negotiate with Taliban

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Government has run into trouble with the army over failing to establish a peace dialogue with the Taliban.

The Pakistani Army is increasingly getting vocal in its criticism of civilian leaders in keeping its promise to handle the escalating insurgency in the nation, the Daily Times reports.

The latest killings of an army major general and two other military officials in a roadside bomb explosion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, has shown how difficult it is going to be to end the conflict, a military official said.The army has avoided open confrontation with the government, but tension is on the rise, the report added.

Last week, All-Parties Conference brought all major political parties in consensus to negotiate with the Taliban group, which gave Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a major victory over his campaign since he took to office four months back.

The Pakistani Taliban's Supreme Council, however, released demands for a ceasefire, release of all its imprisoned militants and withdrawal of the army from all tribal regions.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani warned the terrorists that the country could not be forced to accept their terms.

The army, which keeps thousands of troops in the tribal belt, has opposed government talks with the Pakistani Taliban, keeping in view the failure of past attempts to bring the militants to the negotiating table.

The tension comes at a crucial time when speculation is mounting over who will replace General Kayani, who is due to retire in November.