The ongoing negotiation process between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has become a focal point in political and public circles. On one hand, Imran Khan perceives the government’s attempts to advance the negotiations as a sign of weakness and has once again resorted to issuing threats, adding new conditions for the talks. On the other hand, the government has made it clear that it will not succumb to pressure and has decided that if Imran Khan does not abandon his aggressive and rebellious stance, the negotiations will be abandoned. This, they warn, will not only affect Khan but the entire PTI as well.

According to analysts, powerful state actors have decided to give PTI another opportunity through negotiations. The government’s decision to negotiate with PTI has the full support of the establishment and the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), particularly Mian Nawaz Sharif. However, it seems likely that PTI will squander this opportunity due to Imran Khan’s defiance and rebellious attitude.

Commenting on the negotiations between PTI and the government, analysts state that Khan’s combative approach has dimmed any prospects for his immediate release. Khan seems to view the negotiation process as a sign of the government’s weakness, leading him to act with increasing boldness. As a result, rather than facilitating his release, the negotiations could ultimately fail to even reach completion.

Salim Safi, a prominent analyst, pointed out that in a democratic system, dialogue between the government and the opposition is a positive step for national interests. However, he remarked that Khan’s immediate release is unlikely to result from these negotiations. He emphasized that, despite this, the talks may help create a foundation for his release if the necessary trust-building measures are implemented.

Senior analyst Salman Ghani highlighted Nawaz Sharif’s support for the negotiations with PTI, noting that the seriousness of these efforts is evident from the names of the proposed negotiators from the PML-N, including Ishaq Dar, Irfan Siddiqui, and Rana Sanaullah. According to Ghani, the decision to engage PTI in talks was made by Nawaz Sharif, signaling a new level of seriousness from the government. Ghani further stated that it’s possible that Nawaz Sharif might visit either Adiala Jail or Bani Gala to meet Imran Khan, as he did in the past for the sake of the nation.

Although political figures are officially handling the negotiations, Ghani suggests that significant behind-the-scenes efforts are also ongoing. He referred to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s previous offer to hold talks with PTI in Parliament, though Khan had shown no flexibility at that time. Despite this, Nawaz Sharif is keen on restarting the negotiations to move the process forward.

Ghani further speculated that Nawaz Sharif has always harboured a soft corner for Imran Khan, and if negotiations progress, it is likely that Khan will be moved from Adiala Jail to Bani Gala. He predicts that these negotiations could extend for weeks, initially stalling before gradually improving.

As the government and PTI continue their tense negotiations, analysts are divided on the future, but the overwhelming sentiment is that, without a change in Khan’s approach, the path to resolution remains unclear.