US Commander Signals Peace Talks With Taliban

[Richard]

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

And so it goes...

Richard

US Commander Signals Peace Talks With Taliban
BBC News, 25 Jan 2010

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.

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.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8478076.stm

[MtnGoat]

WHAT???

I don't get this thinking!!!!!!!!

[T-Rock]

When defensive Jihad ceases, and the "Infidel" invaders have been repulsed from Islamic lands, the more prominent form of Jihad begins - offensive Jihad - when the mujahideen become refurbished, <10 years.

[Richard]

When defensive Jihad ceases, and the "Infidel" invaders have been repulsed from Islamic lands, the more prominent form of Jihad begins - offensive Jihad - when the mujahideen become refurbished, <10 years.

Wish I had me one of those palantirs - not sure I'd believe it, though.

Richard

[Dozer523]

Sounds like the US has started to listen to the President of Afghanistan, who has been saying this for years. Specifically, that Afghanistan is for all Afghans (All others need not apply).
Taliban is a political party all be it one that went far astray, who were welcomed as an alternative to the WarLords (who were welcomed as an alternative to the Soviets who were welcomed as an alternative to the ineffective government). Maybe an all inclusive government will be welcomed as an alternative to the US proxy government.
Were the Taliban excessive? To the max. Did the Afghan people wish things had turned out differently, probably (although the Olymipic stadium was packed and nobody made anyone watch).
It seems unlikely the Taliban will be allowed by the average Afghan to return to that much power.

Taliban does not equal Al Queda.

[T-Rock]

Wish I had me one of those palantirs - not sure I'd believe it, though.

I prefer fingernail clippings, animal skins, and chicken bones Sir - much more reliable than a palantír

[jatx]

IMHO, some variation on this theme is inevitable. The devil is in the details, though - the Taliban is not monolithic (as most of you know) and there are more opportunities for us to screw this up than to get it right.

So long as Afghanistan does not return to its haven status for AQ or provide material assistance to them, I could care less if they remain a dismal backwater for the remainder of history. Decapitating a future regime which reneges on its agreements with the West is easily within our power and would require far less blood and treasure than getting Afghans to leapfrog a millennium of foregone political and economic development.

Dozer, you seem to have a much more nuanced view of the Taliban than most people involved, let alone the public. My greatest fear here is Obama (of whom I am not a great fan) being tarred and feathered by members of the public who do not understand the human terrain in Afghanistan and simply react emotionally to the idea. Some serious education needs to begin sooner rather than later, or we will remain locked into our current course and trajectory.

[Dozer523]

Originally Posted by jatx

Dozer, you seem to have a much more nuanced view of the Taliban than most people involved, let alone the public. My greatest fear here is Obama (of whom I am not a great fan) being tarred and feathered by members of the public who do not understand the human terrain in Afghanistan and simply react emotionally to the idea. Some serious education needs to begin sooner rather than later, or we will remain locked into our current course and trajectory.

Thank you. I'm a big fan of the people, and the countryside. We need to de-link AQ and the Taliban in the American mind. Karzi has been attempting that for years in Afghanistan. His policy is practically "Alli alli Afghans out, in free". Working with Afghan security around Camp Eggers (Bet they're not snickerin' about my Hesco Barriers now!) it was common to find guys working side by side who had been muj or part of the ANA under the Soviets, or Taliban and alliance. That's politics and a paycheck. Family and clan are what matter.

Hey! Your not calling me Kerry are you?

[jatx]

Originally Posted by Dozer523

Hey! Your not calling me Kerry are you?

No way, much respect...

[Pete]

Afghan Women Warn Against Possible Deal With Taliban

Not everybody is happy with the thought. I notice this is a UN group.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/...omen.html?_r=2

"....Women from a United Nations agency, the Institute for Inclusive Security and other rights' groups told reporters in London that the progress made since 2001 should not be jeopardised by courting conservative elements....."

and

"...."I have great fears, and I am greatly confused," Homa Sabri, national officer-in-charge for UNIFEM Afghanistan, the U.N.'s women's fund, told Reuters.

"2001 was a very clear signal that there is no more room for conservative elements to rule in Afghanistan," she said.

She questioned how the international community could now regard dealing with these elements as acceptable, and how it could guarantee peaceful integration in a future government.........."

Well, there is always "Hope and Change".

[jatx]

Good post, Pete. There are a lot of people out there who believe that one of the success factors for victory in Afghanistan is the social liberation of women. IMHO, we need to get a bit more hard-nosed about what we want and how we're going to get it, instead of flailing around and confusing the Afghans and ourselves...

[spherojon]

Hmmm...

By David Brunnstrom and Myra MacDonald David Brunnstrom And Myra Macdonald – 40 mins ago

LONDON (Reuters) – The Afghan government on Thursday invited Taliban insurgents to a peace council of elders as part of efforts to find a way out of a conflict which is trying the patience and resources of Afghanistan's Western allies.

In an indication of the quickening pace of diplomacy, a U.N. official said members of the Taliban's leadership council had secretly met the United Nations representative for Afghanistan to discuss the possibility of laying down their arms.

As leaders and ministers from 60 nations convened in London to discuss Afghanistan, the official told Reuters members of the Taliban's Quetta Shura had met U.N. Special Representative Kai Eide on January 8 in Dubai.

"They requested a meeting to talk about talks. They want protection, to be able to come out in public. They don't want to vanish into places like Bagram," the official said, referring to a detention center at a U.S. military base in Afghanistan.

The official said it was the first time such talks had taken place with members of the Taliban's top council, which U.S. officials say is based in the Pakistani city of Quetta.

At the London conference, nations agreed that Afghan forces should aim to take the lead role in providing security in a number of provinces by late 2010 or early 2011, opening the road for a reduction in foreign troops.

"We must reach out to all of our countrymen, especially our disenchanted brothers, who are not part of al Qaeda, or other terrorist networks, who accept the Afghan constitution," Afghan President Hamid Karzai told the conference.

The United States and its allies would not be involved in the council, known as a loya jirga, and have said they want to leave it up to the Afghans to seek reconciliation.

At the same time, U.S. President Barack Obama is sending in 30,000 more troops to weaken the insurgency and convince the Taliban to accept a peace deal, which crucially would require them to sever ties with al Qaeda militants.

More than 110,000 foreign troops are in Afghanistan, including some 70,000 Americans.

"You have to be willing to engage with your enemies if you expect to create a situation that ends an insurgency or so marginalizes the remaining insurgents that it doesn't pose a threat to the stability and security of the people," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said $140 million had been pledged toward an international fund to help reintegrate Taliban foot soldiers into society. Japan said it would provide $50 million toward that sum.

WAR WEARY

The war, originally launched to deny al Qaeda militants a haven under the Taliban after the September 11, 2001, attacks, has entered its ninth year with public support in the United States and its NATO allies waning as casualties rise.

A flawed election, widespread corruption and questions about Karzai's performance have also fueled criticism of the mission.

With economies still fragile after the financial crisis, governments are keen to find a way to end the war.

An Afghan government spokesman said the Taliban would be asked to take part in the loya jirga, expected to be held early this year.

"We wish them to come," spokesman Hamid Elmi told Reuters.

The Taliban have so far shown no willingness in public to enter talks, though some analysts say they realize they are no better placed than the United States and its allies to win the war by military means alone.

"They are tired of fighting. Despite a lot of the bravado they don't have the capacity to take the country," a UN diplomat said. "So in the long run they need a route out themselves."

Western governments have stressed there could be no compromise with those who harbored links with al Qaeda.

But the West's attitude to involving at least some elements of the Afghan Taliban, once demonized over their human rights record and treatment of women before they were ousted by the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, appears to be softening.

PROMINENT ROLE FOR SAUDI ARABIA

Elaborating on the Dubai meeting, the U.N. official said

there had been no follow-up on the talks yet but added: "We've had the initial approach and we are hoping that the Afghan government will now follow up and capitalize on it."

The Dubai meeting was at a higher level than earlier known talks which took place in Saudi Arabia between former Taliban officials and representatives of the Afghan government in 2008.

Karzai also called on Saudi Arabia, which has hosted talks between the Afghan government and Taliban representatives in the past, to help bring peace to Afghanistan.

In response, Saudi Arabia said it would take part in peace efforts only if the Taliban denied sanctuary to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and cut ties with militant networks.

Karzai also said Afghanistan needed the support of its neighbors, particularly Pakistan, to secure peace. Washington says Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Muhammed Omar and other leaders are based in Pakistan -- a charge Islamabad denies.

Pakistan, one of only three countries to recognize the Taliban government before it was overthrown, is seen as well placed to mediate in any talks.

[Utah Bob]

Originally Posted by Dozer523

Thank you. I'm a big fan of the people, and the countryside. We need to de-link AQ and the Taliban in the American mind.

That would certainly simplify things and allow a tighter focus on the immediate threat.

[zpo]

Originally Posted by T-Rock

I prefer fingernail clippings, animal skins, and chicken bones Sir - much more reliable than a palantír

Ya'lls first problem is using a palantir for fortune telling. It's just a cool set of binoculars. Anything else just creative control of your viewing for manipulative purposes. Going back to my corner.

[Shans84]

Last I heard Afghanistan wanted $ 500,000,000 for some sort of peace plan with the Taliban. Honestly, If we ever did pay that money to Afghanistan I would leave the country. The Taliban themselves have said that they cannot be bought...well I am glad they feel that way