In London, Afghan President Hamid Karzai argued that the best way to end the war in his country was by reaching out to the Taliban leadership. He also announced that he would invite Taliban leaders to an upcoming peace jirga (tribal conference). This initiative is a significant development in Karzai’s plan for stabilising Afghanistan, which he set in motion about a year ago.
‘Talks about talks’ between the Afghan government and the Taliban leadership have already begun, according to a UN official, who revealed on Thursday that the UN representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, met “active” members of the Taliban insurgency in Dubai this month. The meeting was not a negotiation, rather, it was an initial discussion on the possibility of beginning peace talks with the Afghan government.
The Afghan government’s desire to engage with the Taliban leadership is bound to cause diplomatic friction between Kabul and Washington. The US also supports talks with militants, but has called for a strategy that involves luring back low- and mid-level Taliban fighters, as opposed to the top leadership, which is accused of sheltering Osama bin Laden and working closely with Al Qaeda.
Do you think the Afghan government should enter peace talks with the Taliban? Should Kabul engage the Taliban leadership, or only win back the loyalty of militant ‘foot soldiers’? Do you think militants will be open to joining the Afghan government and furthering the democratic process? Can Kabul afford to anger Washington?
The following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
I do not support the idea of any talks with Taleban. Taleban are too strong headed and too violent to be considered as sincere negotiators.Even If an agreement is reached they would respect it as long as they enjoy their part of bargain and would cry foul when they have to yield other side’s part of bargain.
-Yes i think Karzai has taken sound good decision about talks with taliban leaders.
But, How it can be possible for taliban, being a begot men, to have negotiations with America?!!
-If they are ready, what is guaranty that there will not be further bloodshed of innocence within and outside the border?
-Is it possible for a man who has such religious thoughts more than extreme level to forget the deaths of their leaders!!!
May Allah leads them on path of peace through these talks.
Mamood Khan Achakzai appealed to the UN Secretary General through an open letter back in 2001 or before the US attack on Afghanistan that Afghan never supported terrorism and whatever happened to that country is because of the foreign terrorists who have taken control of Afghanistan. He pleaded the UN that they should come up with the helping hand to get rid them of these terrorists who were brought in by the intelligence agencies and pushed took them over to the Afghanistan wherein the have imprisoned the poor Afghan. Afghan need help and they can dig out these terrorists from the brow deep inside and there would be very low cost. No one lent any ear to this advice by then but today they are asking for training the Afghan national army and police to help them stabilize the volatile country.
Karzai realized the talking to the Taliban years back when he appealed to them to avoid further blood shed and join the forces for peace and development. Whether Taliban join the Jirga (there is slim chance) or not those who wish peace and prosperity would be having a no prick of conscience for killing and destruction. Taliban have no minds, frankly, they are controlled by the Al Qaida network and there is very little hope that these people would listen to the reason.
Beware of these talks Idea. West is now realizing that there is no point in continuing the presence in Afghanistan and Pakistan and want to leave this place. They also have realized that with the kind of money they are pumping here they could fortify the security in their own country. There is a growing cry in west against the war not because the innocent killing but because they feel that the tax payers money is being spent on alien lands. This move is akin to the US moved out when the Soviet war was over. You cannot buy terrorists. They are not fighting for money or neither they are robbers. Its is a clash of civilizations. West is more than eager to leave this place and this region will be pushed back to anarchy once again. Once again you will see the raise of Taliban. Who is going to bring back those dead in the drone attacks and as collateral? How the west is going to compensate for that? We must learn a lesson here that we should not let the outsiders to run our home affairs
Couldn’t understand this policy because on the one hand Hamid karzai wants to talk with top leadership of Taliban and on the other hand Hillary Clinton wants talk with those are being exploiting by The taliban leadership(according to them) not with Taliban.
Sorry to say this policy wont be successful until or unless the talks with top leadership of Taliban will not start, the peace in Afghanistan society never will be possible. Now Karzai understand the real situation that is why He is demanding the talks with Taliban leadership.
Had they thought of it before going into war in Afghanistan, they would have saved hundereds of lives on both sides.
So would it work now? The answer, I think is a ‘BIG NO’.
It’s a very tricky situation. Leaving the matter entirely in the hand of the warring Talibans will make situation quite indigestible. The Talibans will not only be happy to rule Afghanistan, they will try to impose their will in the bordering countries as well. This will invite a greater war which may further escalate into guerilla war fare in the region. In my opinion moving out of Afghanistan with the wounds still oozing can temporally help America but it will not be a permanent solution. Good democratic and clean governance by the Karazai government, inclusion of the recently freed ex Taliban leaders in the main stream with of course a generous development plan can make peoples of Afghanistan think better. If the ordinary peoples of Afghanistan rises to the occasion and decides to change and work within the framework of a democratic setup then chances are that the Taliban powers will subside.
AH
That is a clear victory for Taliban against the USA and its allies illegal occupation of their country!
Since 8 years they have been fighting but USA have achieved nothing so for. So USA should leave the place hand over to Taliban government because they know the system how to run. USA doing for nothing they will never achieve their purpose. The more they killing the more Taliban will arising.
Talking to Taliban is a sign of defeat of USA.
I am not sure if the US government is NOT in favour of talking to the leadership of Taliban. They just had sanctions taken off the Taliban leadership in the UN. I don’t agree with the basic premise of the point of debate.
The only way peace can come to Afghanistan and the South Asian Region is absence of USA from the region. America must realise by now that their policies of creating awe and terror in the region has not worked and will not work. America has learnt the lesson by now.
USA should have learnt this long time ago from clear defeat of another super power who wanted to subjugate Afghan people by force.
This region has its own peculiar culture and ways to work out any differences. Sooner the American interference and dictation stops better it is for the people of this region, Afghanistan inclusive.
America should stop relying on Karzai. If America really cares for the people then they must get out first and offer any aid to improve education and social services in the region.
Taliban’s may argue that they have lost thousands of their warriors in attacks against them.
Their top leadership has not engaged in any such dialogue.
Is this not too late to make proposals of this kind and expect that Taliban’s will forget and forgive?
The only way to deal with Taliban is to defeat them militarily and finish them. Even if some Taliban accept to stop fighting, they will revoke agreement as soon as they get first opportunity. This is their tradition and they have done it many times in history. Instead of talking with Taliban, NATO should bring a strong, honest and brave ruler in Kabul and get rid of Karzai and his corrupt officials. How come those who build schools and those who bomb them would work together in same administration. No negotiations, just finish the job, or get away.
I agree with you 100%
Kabul leaders or government officials have already met Taliban leaders in the Maldives.
Ideology of Taliban is different from the Afghan Government though both are Pashtun and Muslim.
Similar talks have not succeeded in FATA region nor the Swat Valley in Pakistan.It has resulted in the strengthening of Militancy in the region and subsequently more turmoil and conflict in Pakistan.
All violence in the region is caused seeking Power. The root cause is POWER.
It is a very wise late but correct decision for all out talks b/w Afghan govt. and Taliban.
A political solution is the only solution possible. If Taliban are given due share in the power structure in Afghanistan like rest of the warlords in Karzai Govt. great good will come, as once Taliban who are in control will come main stream they would stop any resistance.
Afghans should settle their own affairs and this will not happen till the presence of foreign troops.
Why would they want to talk, since they are in a position of strength.
This is a pathetic last effort on part of the West after another repeat failure.
There is a discrimination factor here that needs to be underlined. Why not engage and consider the Taliban to be one unit? The fact that the US considers ground militants to be the key area of concentration for negotiation might have a negative impact on the entire process. The top leadership are still the harbingers of the ground militant operation. So by sidelining the top leadership, the US is negating the possibility of prolonged conflict where a trust deficit would exist between the militants and the US government. This is not what’s required for the negotiation process to move forward. Making the Taliban a part of the political fabric requires the acceptance of the Taliban in its entirety. For Karzai, ignoring the entirety of the Taliban means the possible prolongation of the conflict which is detrimental to US ‘ OBJECTIVES’ in the region
There should be talk for sure, and bloodshed should be stop!
If the Taliban is willing to
– fight elections
– give up power when they lose an election
– respect other non-Pashtun communities
then yeah, sure “talk to them”.
Are the above possible?
Do you guys seriously think that the Taliban will all of a sudden adopt a secular identity?
they’ll renounce violence and build a democratic Afghanistan? Frankly if they were ready to meet half way, I’d be ready. Forget a secular government, if they allow for religious freedom I would let them rule the country.
Handing over the government to the Taliban (assuming their ideology doesn’t change) simply means that 1) waging the war was a wrong step 2) that the US is trying to minimize its damage.
There should be talks if peace is expected as a consequence.
I think that it is a surrender to talk to any terrorist. Now what will happen is that these Taliban will come into power have draconian laws. In few years they will try to spread their lawlessness.
Osama and others will get safe sanctuary. And all this knowing that US will not attack them in future.
I think that Taliban will never accept the American backed negotiations. The only solution to the problem is a complete withdrawl of foreign troops so that the region can be stabilized.
Talking is a good thing in all circumstances. But I don’t think this will accomplish anything.
In politics, negotiations and compromises are tools.
Without the scope for negotiations and compromises talks will not lead anywhere.