US wants Taliban talks

[Gazzi]

It appears that after dragging Pakistan into its so called War on Terror, the US is trying to save face with Obama anouncing a possible withdrawal staring in 2011 and his Military leadership with a humble this Taliban and that Taliban leader is good.

PATHETIC, no stomach whatsoever. Growls more then it bites

For Pakistan, - Were on our own AGAIN

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US commander signals peace talks with Taliban


Nato's top commander in Afghanistan has said increased troop levels could bring a negotiated peace with the Taliban.

US Gen Stanley McChrystal told the UK's Financial Times newspaper that there had been "enough fighting".

He said a political solution in all conflicts was "inevitable". His remarks came as the top UN envoy in Kabul said it was time to talk to the militants.

Afghan and Pakistani leaders are in Turkey to discuss tackling the Taliban-led insurgency in their countries.

This is the fourth such meeting initiated by Turkey, which has offered to broker talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

Both Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari, will attend an international conference on Afghanistan in London on Thursday.

'Focus on the future'

"I'd like everybody to walk out of London with a renewed commitment, and that commitment is to the right outcome for the Afghan people," Gen McChrystal told the Financial Times.


It's impossible to paint the Taliban all with one brush... [the rank and file] don't want to pay the price for al-Qaeda's extremism for ever
Gen Stanley McChrystal,
Nato commander in Afghanistan

He said the arrival of the extra 30,000 US troops pledged by President Obama and the additional 7,000 troops promised by other Nato countries should deliver "very demonstrably positive" progress in 2010.

But he warned that the level of Taliban violence could increase sharply this year.

The Taliban wanted to create the perception that Afghanistan was on fire, and that President Karzai and his Western allies could not cope, Gen McChrystal said.

However, if the new US-led strategy was successful, the militants "could look desperate" in a year's time, he said.

"I think they will look like an entity that will be struggling for its own legitimacy... I think they will be on the defensive militarily, not wiped out."

On the issue of reconciliation, Gen McChrystal said: "I believe that a political solution to all conflicts is the inevitable outcome. And it's the right outcome."

Asked if he thought senior Taliban could have a role in a future Afghan government, he said: "I think any Afghans can play a role if they focus on the future, and not the past.

"As a soldier, my personal feeling is that there's been enough fighting," Gen McChrystal added.

'Time has come'

In an interview with the New York Times, United Nations special representative Kai Eide called for some senior Taliban leaders to be removed from a UN list of terrorists, as a prelude to direct talks.

"If you want relevant results, then you have to talk to the relevant person in authority," Mr Eide said. "I think the time has come to do it."

President Karzai recently told the BBC that he planned to introduce a scheme to attract Taliban fighters back to normal life by offering money and jobs.

He said he would offer to pay and resettle Taliban fighters to come over to his side.

Mr Karzai said he hoped to win backing for his plan from the US and UK at the London conference.

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BBC News - US commander signals peace talks with Taliban

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

Afghan warlord open to ‘conditional’ talks

* Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s spokesman links negotiations to withdrawal of foreign forces, ceasefire and release of prisoners

KABUL: Warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is open to peace talks with the Afghan government and US negotiators, his spokesmen said on Friday, but on the condition that all foreign troops leave Afghanistan.

The comments by two of his spokesmen come as President Hamid Karzai outlines an ambitious Western-backed plan to tempt fighters away from their insurgent masters by offering money and jobs.

Hekmatyar served as prime minister briefly during the 1992-1996 civil war, but has become one of the top militant leaders opposing the Afghan government, claiming attacks on foreign troops and operating across the north and east.

Waliullah, spokesman for Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan — the radical militant group that Hekmatyar commands — told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location that the warlord was open to talks “with all those concerned”.

“We are ready for negotiations anywhere and at any stage. The doors are open but they (the United States) imposed a war on us and we have no option left but to fight for our country,” Waliullah said.

“We want a free and independent Afghanistan. We are ready for positive negotiations, which can bring results and peace in our country. We agree that all those concerned should be a part of these negotiations.”

But despite the apparent conciliatory tone, another spokesman told AFP that all the preconditions Hekmatyar raised in the past remained.

Conditions: “We have five conditions for peace talks,” said Zubair Sediqi, a spokesman who frequently calls reporters to claim attacks on Hekmatyar’s behalf.

“All the foreign forces must leave Afghanistan unconditionally. A permanent ceasefire must be enforced. All prisoners from all side must be freed. An interim administration must take charge for one year.”

Such an interim administration “must organise an election within one year”, Sediqi added, also speaking from an unknown location.

His comments reflected a video of Hekmatyar posted on the Wall Street Journal website on Thursday, in which the warlord said that before talks took place, “they (foreign forces) should be willing to leave Afghanistan”.

“On every level, we are ready for negotiations but when we understand that the adversary is sincere in holding negotiations and that negotiations with him could be beneficial for the country and for the nation,” Hekmatyar said. Sediqi said the video had been recorded in late 2009. afp

Gulbuddin Hikmatyar Opens to Conditional Talks

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

U.S. commander sees eventual Taliban peace deal

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan said he hopes increased troop levels will weaken the Taliban enough that its leaders will accept a peace deal.

World

U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal told the Financial Times in an interview published on Monday that there had been "enough fighting" and held out the possibility the Taliban could eventually help run the country.

"It's not my job to extend olive branches, but it is my job to help set conditions where people in the right positions can have options on the way forward," he said.

"I think any Afghans can play a role if they focus on the future, and not the past," he said when asked whether he would be content to see Taliban leaders in a future Afghan government.

He was speaking ahead of a conference in London expected to agree a framework for the Afghan government to begin taking charge of security in line with a 2011 timetable set by President Barack Obama to start drawing down U.S. troops.

Obama is sending an extra 30,000 troops in Afghanistan to try to reverse a military stalemate there and has held out the possibility of reintegrating former Taliban fighters.

However, early last year he appeared to rule out any possibility of talks with leaders of the insurgency, saying that the "uncompromising core of the Taliban" must be defeated.

In the first of a series of meetings before Thursday's international conference in London, Turkey hosted the presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan on Monday for talks expected to focus on plans to reach out to Taliban insurgents.

Masood Khalili, Afghanistan's ambassador to Turkey, told Turkish state-run news agency Anatolian the aim of the meeting was to "forge cooperation that might lead to reconciliation in the region. Everybody in the region is thirsty for peace."

Pakistan has long played an important role in Afghan affairs, having nurtured the Afghan Taliban during the 1990s, but Kabul remains suspicious that Islamabad is pursuing its own agenda in the country to the detriment of Afghanistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai was due to hold talks with his counterpart Asif Ali Zardari on the sidelines of a summit with Turkey, which has been working to repair relations between Islamabad and Kabul, notably over negotiations with the Taliban.

Military and intelligence officials from Afghanistan and Pakistan were also attending the talks.

On Tuesday, Turkey is hosting a meeting of Afghanistan's neighbors to seek a common approach to the conflict ahead of the London talks, which will bring together some 60 countries.

Turkey has said the foreign minister of China and officials from Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan will attend as well as British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke's deputy, Paul Jones.


US commander sees eventual Taliban peace deal

 

[Ahmad]

Seeking peace deal with the Taliban is not something new. it is an option and it should be. If the matter can be solved with dialogue then why not, and if the Taliban choose to live like human being rather killing their own people then it should be wellcomed.

 

[Imran Khan]

we have to do more an d they have to peace talk.if we talk to them its become safe heaven for terarr if they talk to same ppl its peace loving .100% dubble standerd of uncle sam.

 

[Gazzi]

Seeking peace deal with the Taliban is not something new. it is an option and it should be. If the matter can be solved with dialogue then why not, and if the Taliban choose to live like human being rather killing their own people then it should be wellcomed.

Would love to see your country invaded by a foreign army and then families looted and women raped and members of family killed and then ask you if you to live like a human being and negotiate with them.

 

[Ahmad]

Would love to see your country invaded by a foreign army and then families looted and women raped and members of family killed and then ask you if you to live like a human being and negotiate with them.

yes, and you are siding with the taliban. the same taliban who are servents of Pakistan. i wonder if you talked in support of the taliban if they were not Noukar of pakistan. for afghans all the foreigners are the same be it pakistan or americans. before the americans we had taliban and pakistanis in afghanistna, and now it is americans, why there be any difference between pakistan and america? as long as there is peace in afghanistan there will be every chance of containing the problem or foreign existence, but that is not what pakistanis want. during the taliban time pakisitanis used to roam in afghan cities, ask any afghan about Reesh Khor, there is a military base in that area, it used to be full of pakistanis and no any afghan was allowed to go there, in Logar province they(pakistan) had their own guards and people taking mines and transpoting it to paksitan. if the same taliban are talking about foreign existence in afghanistna then it highly surprising.

 

[Gazzi]

yes, and you are siding with the taliban. the same taliban who are servents of Pakistan. i wonder if you talked in support of the taliban if they were not Noukar of pakistan. for afghans all the foreigners are the same be it pakistan or americans. before the americans we had taliban and pakistanis in afghanistna, and now it is americans, why there be any difference between pakistan and america? as long as there is peace in afghanistan there will be every chance of containing the problem or foreign existence, but that is not what pakistanis want. during the taliban time pakisitanis used to roam in afghan cities, ask any afghan about Reesh Khor, there is a military base in that area, it used to be full of pakistanis and no any afghan was allowed to go there, in Logar province they(pakistan) had their own guards and people taking mines and transpoting it to paksitan. if the same taliban are talking about foreign existence in afghanistna then it highly surprising.

You seemed to have quickly ducked and launched into who I support. I support the PA, unquestioned. owever, if I came to your home is raped your women and killed your family members, and like many killed entire families, what would your response be Unity Sir.

If the answer is no, then you are clearly not human are you, according to your stupid logic

The US cannot just think it can start a war when it likes and end it when it likes, hence the Taliban dont give too sh!ts what the US wants. The more US troops the merrier for them and they have more to kill when the time is right.

It is a very unfortunate reality, as alot of US soldiers have families back at home with loved ones awaiting anxiously for their arrival, and I know from personal experience how hard that is, however even though they are carrying out orders, they are the target and they are the enemy for the Taliban.

With regards to your comment about PA roaming freely, well the us is doing the same as are other countries. PA will always want a Government in power who is more closer to them, just like any other country would, especially when countries like India are involved. And why shouldn't it.

I do however sincerely hope the Pakistan Government comes now to its senses and sends back all the Afghan refugees who have overstayed their refugee status welcome and mine the entire border with Afghanistan if there is not a change in the Afghan Governments attitude and close all supply routes to its ports. They can do business elsewhere

 

[mr42O]

War is lost for long time ago. Not only USA lost war in Afghanistan but also has ensured fighting in Pakistan. Who will pay for that ?

 

[Gazzi]

War is lost for long time ago. Not only USA lost war in Afghanistan but also has ensured fighting in Pakistan. Who will pay for that ?

Did the US pay for the first time they deserted Pakistan, no, I wouldn't hold my breath

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

I think a deal with the Taliban is achievable . Owing to the given condition , The Talibans should participate in the process of nation building , but their key demand is that All foreign forces should vacate afghanistan ...!
All eyes on thursdays world conference on Afghanistan ...!

 

[graphican]

Seeking peace deal with the Taliban is not something new. it is an option and it should be. If the matter can be solved with dialogue then why not, and if the Taliban choose to live like human being rather killing their own people then it should be wellcomed.

Its not the love for peace that God Damn country is getting down to its knees and begging for dialog with the people who they liked to burn turning their face towards west aka Kabbah. Thats the last attempt to stay in Afghanistan before they run like beaten dogs.

 

[Ahmad]

You seemed to have quickly ducked and launched into who I support. I support the PA, unquestioned. owever, if I came to your home is raped your women and killed your family members, and like many killed entire families, what would your response be Unity Sir.

Why should one foreign country be different from another one in Afghanistan? they are all foreigners for Afghans. America, Pakistan etc are all the same. That is my point, if you dont get it then dont.


The US cannot just think it can start a war when it likes and end it when it likes, hence the Taliban dont give too sh!ts what the US wants. The more US troops the merrier for them and they have more to kill when the time is right.

Who give a damn about the US? they are as forigners as Pakistanis in Afghanistan. The Taliban might kill a few americans here and there, but the only and real victim is Afghanistan and Afghans, thats what Pakistan have always wanted, a week and broken Afghanistan to be used in their proxy war.

With regards to your comment about PA roaming freely, well the us is doing the same as are other countries. PA will always want a Government in power who is more closer to them, just like any other country would, especially when countries like India are involved. And why shouldn't it.

OK, then why do you blame the Americans and the Indians? This is my whole point that you confirmed. What we see in Afghanistan is nothing but a proxy war between all of these countries and Afghans are the only ones who are seeing their blood spilt and their country going down and down every day. Why should an Afghan cheer for a proxy war that benefit the others except the Afghans.

I do however sincerely hope the Pakistan Government comes now to its senses and sends back all the Afghan refugees who have overstayed their refugee status welcome and mine the entire border with Afghanistan if there is not a change in the Afghan Governments attitude and close all supply routes to its ports. They can do business elsewhere

I doubt they will do that.

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

US must talk to Taliban, says 'Colonel Imam'

ISLAMABAD: The United States must talk to the Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar if it wants to said the Pakistani former spymaster who trained the Taliban chief Mullah Omar.

Retired Brigadier Sultan Tarar, known as Colonel Imam, a former operative of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) said that Mullah Omar is open to such talks.

"If a sincere message comes from the Americans, these people (the Taliban) are very big-hearted. They will listen. But if you try to divide the Taliban, you'll fail. Anyone who leaves Mullah Omar is no more Taliban. Such people are just trying to deceive," said colonel Imam, in an interview with McClatchy Newspapers.

His comments come as the Nato's top commander in Afghanistan has said increased troop levels could bring a negotiated peace with the Taliban. US Gen Stanley McChrystal has said that there had been enough fighting and a political solution in all conflicts was inevitable. His remarks came as the top UN envoy in Kabul said it was time to talk to the militants. Afghan President Hamid Karzai is expected to unveil the initiative at an international conference on Afghanistan in London on Thursday.

However, Pakistan’s security establishment believes that Omar's ambitions are limited to Afghanistan, and that the Taliban can now be persuaded to share power with other Afghan factions.

"Mullah Omar is highly respected, very faithful to his country. He's the only answer. He's a very reasonable man," said Imam. He said that Mullah Omar would be willing to cut a deal, if it would lead to the departure of foreign troops and included funds to rebuild Afghanistan. "I can help," he said. "But can I trust the Americans?"

Colonel Imam, who is a specialist of commando-guerrilla warfare, is widely believed to have trained Mullah Omer and other Taliban factions in guerrilla warfare. After the Soviet defeat and the collapse of communism, "Colonel Imam" was invited to the White House by the then US President George Bush (senior), and was given a piece of the Berlin Wall with a brass plaque inscribed: "To the one who dealt the first blow." Today, western intelligence agencies believe Imam is among a group of renegade officers from Pakistan’s ISI who continued to help the Taliban after Pakistan turned against them following the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Western diplomats believe that ISI must be involved in any negotiations or it would act as a spoiler, continuing to provide aid to the Taliban and allied insurgent groups as part of a goal to install in Kabul a pro-Pakistan regime that would cut close ties with India.

Colonel Imam said that without talks, the war would grind on with US forces ignoring the counterinsurgency textbooks that call for the use of minimal force and winning the support of the people.

"The time is on the Taliban's side. The longer the Americans stay, the more complete will be their defeat. They will not be routed but they will be worn out, psychologically and physically," he said.

US must talk to Taliban, says 'Colonel Imam' - Pakistan - World - The Times of India

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

Regional moot supports negotiation with Taliban

ISTANBUL: Neighbouring countries of Afghanistan including Turkey and China have fully supported the process to persuade Taliban to lay down their arms and participate in the political process of Afghanistan have called for initiating dialogue with Taliban.

The joint communiqué issued after the end of the regional conference on Afghanistan held in Istanbul also supported the process for the reconciliation with the Taliban and to re-make them a party of the Afghan society.

According to the communiqué Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan have reiterated their determination to tackle terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The three sides agreed to enhance their indigenous capacities to effectively curb this menace.

The summit agreed to focus on closer cooperation in economic, trade, energy and transportation sectors at their next summit.

It also endorsed the recommendations of the Education Ministers conference of the three countries held earlier this month in Ankara.

Underlining the importance of education as a key area, the leaders of the three countries agreed to make every effort to accelerate the qualitative development of their youth.

The three Presidents agreed that trans-regional development remains a key priority of the trilateral summit process and decided to encourage the participation of private sector in undertaking regional development programmes and joint ventures.

Later addressing a press conference President Asif Ali Zardari urging the world community to extend more cooperation to Pakistan and Afghanistan which is imperative for durable peace in the region said that Pakistan is pursuing a three D-strategy, dialogue, development and deterrence to effectively combat extremism and terrorism.

He said government would enter into dialogue with any group which is reconcileable to achieve peace in the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari hoped that the summit would yield desired results in enhancing cooperation among the three countries and facilitate the restoration of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

The Turkish President Abdullah Gul said the summit would continue in the years to come to achieve tangible progress towards achieving durable peace in the region and strengthening of cooperation among the three countries.

The Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his government is ready to enter into talks with those Taliban groups who are willing to lay down their arms.

He said his government might also request the UN Security Council to remove such groups from the list of those identified for sanctions.

He said that the commitment made at the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum should be fulfilled so Pakistan would implement its developmental agenda affectively.

The regional conference was attended by the delegations from Pakistan, China, Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajakistan, Turkemanistan, United States, Britain, Russia, Japan, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia and representatives of the international organizations.

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