ISLAMABAD: Army’s silence on a day when its top brass met to discuss “internal security” was deafening.

The corps commanders’ meeting on Monday was held against the backdrop of the government-initiated peace process with Taliban militants.

All eyes have been, meanwhile, on the army because it virtually enjoys veto over most of the steps proposed by the TTP leadership for “improving the atmospherics”, which largely seek more space for the militants in their territory – North Waziristan.

Much of the details of Taliban conditions for building confidence and conducive environment may still not be publicly known, but at least the demand of what the outlawed TTP now describes as its ‘contact team’, for a meeting with the army chief and head of the ISI is on the record.

While the army may have finalised its strategy for the dialogue process, it can be said with certainty that the generals have decided not to hog the headlines.

All that the army’s public affairs division, ISPR, had to say was that “the forum dwelt at length on various professional matters. The participants also undertook a comprehensive review of prevalent internal and external security situation of the country.”

The ISPR statement was, as always, pithy, and importantly its Director General Maj Gen Asim Bajwa after the meeting remained unavailable to answer media questions.

It is an open secret that the army had not been comfortable with the structure of the talks but has been extra cautious not to publicly air its misgivings.

The army is, moreover, in no mood to give the impression that it is challenging the civilian leaders’ lead role in the process.

Vibes coming from the army indicate that its leadership is not too keen to meet the TTP contact team led by Maulana Samiul Haq. The other highlight of the session was a briefing on Chief of the Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia, his first since assuming the command.

The trip is being described by the military as highly successful in terms of further cementing defence ties.