Reconciliation efforts US engaged in talks with Taliban: Karzai
Comments come amid UN’s decision to split the sanctions regime for the Taliban and al Qaeda.
KABUL:
The United States is holding talks with the Taliban, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday, in the first official confirmation of such contacts after nearly 10 years of war.
Although diplomats and officials say the talks are at a very early stage, Karzai’s remarks highlight the increasing focus on finding a political settlement. “Peace talks are going on with the Taliban. The foreign military and especially the United States itself is going ahead with these negotiations,” Karzai said addressing a conference in Kabul. “The peace negotiations between (the) Afghan government and the Taliban movement are not yet based on a certain agenda or physical (meetings), there are contacts established.”
The State Department has acknowledged a ‘broad range of contacts’ in support of reconciliation efforts to help end a nearly decade-long war.
“We have consistently supported an Afghan-led process of reconciliation,” spokesperson Megan Mattson told AFP. “Currently, we have a broad range of contacts across Afghanistan and the region, and at many levels, to support that effort.”
Karzai last year set up a High Council for Peace to look at the issue, which visited Pakistan – seen as key to establishing communication channels – last week.
Washington has acknow-ledged that Karzai has taken a number of positive steps. “He held a broad-based Peace Jirga last June. And he formed a High Peace Council that includes representatives from across Afghanistan and which has held meetings in provinces throughout the country,” Mattson said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier this year called on the Taliban to split from al Qaeda, renounce violence and accept the constitution so they can be re-integrated into society. Karzai’s comments came the day after the UN Security Council agreed to split the international sanctions regime for the Taliban and al Qaeda in a bid to encourage the Taliban to join reconciliation efforts.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2011.
The United States is holding talks with the Taliban, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday, in the first official confirmation of such contacts after nearly 10 years of war.
Although diplomats and officials say the talks are at a very early stage, Karzai’s remarks highlight the increasing focus on finding a political settlement. “Peace talks are going on with the Taliban. The foreign military and especially the United States itself is going ahead with these negotiations,” Karzai said addressing a conference in Kabul. “The peace negotiations between (the) Afghan government and the Taliban movement are not yet based on a certain agenda or physical (meetings), there are contacts established.”
The State Department has acknowledged a ‘broad range of contacts’ in support of reconciliation efforts to help end a nearly decade-long war.
“We have consistently supported an Afghan-led process of reconciliation,” spokesperson Megan Mattson told AFP. “Currently, we have a broad range of contacts across Afghanistan and the region, and at many levels, to support that effort.”
Karzai last year set up a High Council for Peace to look at the issue, which visited Pakistan – seen as key to establishing communication channels – last week.
Washington has acknow-ledged that Karzai has taken a number of positive steps. “He held a broad-based Peace Jirga last June. And he formed a High Peace Council that includes representatives from across Afghanistan and which has held meetings in provinces throughout the country,” Mattson said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier this year called on the Taliban to split from al Qaeda, renounce violence and accept the constitution so they can be re-integrated into society. Karzai’s comments came the day after the UN Security Council agreed to split the international sanctions regime for the Taliban and al Qaeda in a bid to encourage the Taliban to join reconciliation efforts.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2011.