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Subscribe to RSSISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The United States and Afghanistan have agreed to "give safe passage" to representatives of the Afghan Taliban to help them to enter future peace talks, officials announced Friday.
It may represent a significant step forward towards the resumption of peace talks that were suspended in Qatar last month, and comes just weeks ahead of a NATO summit in Chicago on the future of Afghanistan.
Speaking at a joint press conference with U.S. Special Envoy Marc Grossman and Pakistani Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Javed Ludin said: "Time is short, peace is urgent."
New blow to US-Afghan links? Congressional delegation meets Karzai foes
"We need to find and encourage and create safe passage for peace talks," with the Afghan Taliban, he added.
His comments came after the three countries held their sixth meeting aimed at political reconciliation in Afghanistan.
A U.S. Embassy official confirmed to NBC News that the countries have agreed to allow and facilitate travel of the Afghan militants to participate in any future talks. The official said details of how it would work in practice have not been announced.
U.S. sees Taliban talks suspension as tactical move
Jilani announced the establishment of two new groups, one to represent the efforts of the three countries at the United Nations, and another responsible for "safe passage." "Safe passage will be to help bring Afghan Taliban in to peace talks," he told NBC News.
Rahmat Gul / AP
More than ten years after the beginning of the war, Afghanistan faces external pressure to reform as well as ongoing internal conflicts.
Talks were suspended last month amid a string of public setbacks that have scandalized and angered Afghans, notably U.S. soldiers' burning of copies of the Koran and the killing of 16 Afghan villagers for which a U.S. soldier is in custody.
Dr Gareth Price, senior research fellow at Britain's Chatham House think thank, told msnbc.com the move could be seen as a "confidence-building measure".
"The US has made clear it will remain in Afghanistan in some form - that's the stick, if you like, so maybe this is the carrot," he said.
On Tuesday, White House sources told Reuters that President Barack Obama's administration may hand over a Taliban detainee at Guantanamo Bay prison directly to the Afghan government in order to help revive peace talks.
As foreign forces prepare to exit Afghanistan, the White House had hoped to lay the groundwork for peace talks by sending five Taliban prisoners, some seen as among the most threatening detainees at Guantanamo, to Qatar to rejoin other Taliban members opening a political office there.
Sources: Scant evidence 'torture' aided war on terror, Senate probe finds
While that plan has not been scotched entirely, several sources familiar with preliminary discussions within the U.S. government said the United States may instead, as an initial gesture meant to revive diplomacy, send one of those detainees directly to Afghan government custody.
The sources identified the detainee as a former Taliban regional governor named Khairullah Khairkhwa, who is seen by American officials as less dangerous than other senior Taliban detainees now held at the U.S. military prison in Cuba.
Karzai slams NATO over 18-hour Kabul gunbattle
More than a year ago, the White House launched what began as a secretive diplomatic bid to coax the Taliban, the Islamist group that ruled Afghanistan until 2001, into peace talks. That campaign has become central to U.S. strategy as officials conclude the Afghan war will not end on the battlefield alone.
Five alleged members of the Taliban are being detained in Afghanistan after authorities discovered a huge amount of explosives in a truck. NBC's Lester Holt reports.
It remains far from clear whether the Taliban would embrace sharing power in Afghanistan and whether the militants are cohesive enough to agree on a joint diplomatic approach.
But Washington's strategy, before the summit in Chicago, is to build on what officials see as military progress against the Taliban, and encouraging signs from the Afghan and Pakistani governments, to heap pressure on the Islamist group.
The Chicago summit is expected to further detail plans for the withdrawal of most of NATO's 130,000 troops there by the end of 2014 and set the course for future ties between Afghanistan and the West.
After an 18-hour assault, the Taliban took responsibility for the destruction. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
U.S. efforts to broker the talks were dealt a blow last month when the Taliban suspended its participation and appeared to reject even minimal restrictions for prisoner transfer.
'Deplorable': U.S. defense chief condemns urinating Marines video
Meanwhile, President Obama has reviewed potential threats to the United States before next week's anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden, but there is no concrete evidence al-Qaida is plotting any revenge attacks, the White House said on Thursday.
U.S. Navy SEALs shot bin Laden last year in a raid on the al-Qaida leader's compound in Pakistan before dawn on May 2 local time, which was May 1 in the United States. The killing is touted by the Obama administration as one of its top national security accomplishments.
Osama bin Laden's widow, kids leave Pakistan
"At this time, we have no credible information that terrorist organizations, including al-Qaida, are plotting attacks in the United States to coincide with the anniversary of bin Laden's death," White House press secretary Jay Carney said on Thursday.
Farooq Naeem / AFP - Getty Images
U.S. forces found and killed the al-Qaida leader in the affluent Pakistani town of Abbottabad, where he had been living in a large compound.
That assessment was echoed in an FBI and Department of Homeland Security intelligence bulletin issued on Wednesday to state and local law enforcement agencies.
The bulletin said U.S. agencies "have not detected signs of homeland plotting by these groups in the intervening months."
Abbottabad: One year after bin Laden
Despite the lack of evidence of a threat, the bulletin cautioned that al-Qaida "probably would view a homeland attack on this anniversary as a symbolic victory that would help reassert the group's global relevance following the major leadership losses and operation setbacks it has suffered over the past year."
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
Leave a Comment:
Those people are not our friends. Let's just get out of there and stop trying to make them like us. We're wasting money there, nothing more.
Yes there is something else, we're wasting young American lives.........
What is happening here is that the U.S. government is getting ready to turn this effort in Afghanistan back over to U.S. Special Forces, and U.S. Special Forces clearly proved what they could do (in a matter of a few months, not years) back in 2001. Either the Taliban makes peace in Afghanistan, or they are increasingly likely to see a repeat of 2001. I strongly urge them to come to peaceful terms with their countrymen, and in the process learn civilized means of intelligent debate. Otherwise the future is likely to be very bloody, and trust me, for the most part that will be on their side and not ours. - RC
This isn't 2001. Its easy to depose a gov't in afghanistan, but special forces came nowhere close to eliminating them. Its not the same situation.
Baldenario applauds the strategy of providing so-called "safe passage" to Taliban negotiators, because during the "safe passage" our special operations folks will be able to use highly advanced sedatives to render the Taliban negotiators unconscious, at which time they can insert special anal GPS tracking devices that release GPS nanobots when stimulated, which then sometime later combine to form additional GPS tracking devices . . .
We are the aliens, and we probe . . .
And with the ongoing buggering that defines the Taliban, in a short time we will know where all the Taliban are located, which in turn makes it virtually trivial to remove them from the known universe by the swift and diligent application of advanced thermodynamic physics . . .
Burn a Qur'an and barbecue Bull's-Eye® Memphis Style pork ribs for Elvis and Jesus!™
"They are as children......".
This is the real world, try to keep up.
From the posts above lambasting the Obama administration (and indirectly lambasting over 70% of the American people who want our troops out of Afghanistan and an end to this stupid war), I have to ask: Isn't this the same Taliban that George Bush had to his ranch when he was governor of Texas? Seems to be some inconsistency here in the application of righteousness.
No doubt what i would do if i was in charge of this whole thing, i would have the CIA plant Micro sized tracking devices ( like on Mission Impossible movies ) on all these Taliban "Leaders" and track them to their Training Camps & Cave Dwellings. Then just send in the Drones to make nice big red splatters out of all of them. No doubt it could be done. Unfortunately, the USA fights a war like real Men, not like the cowards these Diaper Heads are ( dressing up as Afghan Soldiers and MURDERING USA Soldiers ) , so we can't just blow them away at these Peace Talks. I hope someone with Authority is smart enough to plant tracking devices on these cowards and finish them off.
Thank goodness some of these war hawks aren't in control of the Government. War is wonderful from a armchair and really wonderful for war profiteers, but not so good for the men and woman who have to fight it. But then, they're disposable assets, aren't they?
nightwalker, I am a 26 year decorated retired veteran and free passage to the leaders of the taliban who are know terrorists and our self professed enemies need to be done away with, not talked to. I for one would volunteer to go there and obliterate them unlike you bleeding heart liberals that are willing to sit by and wait for them to kill more innocent American civilian men, women, and children. That is what you get for voting in a muslim to sit in the white house where an American should be sitting.
Remember, a vote for obammy is an act of treason.
drkangel: feel free to find a million or so of your friends and family to scour afghanistan to do away with the taliban, since that's what it would take, more or less.
clue for the clueless: the taliban aren't hugely interested in killing "innocent american men, women, andchildren". That would be al quada. the taliban just want us out of afghanistan.
vermontguy, you are another ignorant liberal believing all the BS spread by the muslim in the white house and his administration. All it would take is to do away with the restrictive rules of engagement that have been put on our troops by this administration and the taliban would be gone and we would be out of Afghanistan. When was the last time you carried a weapon in the middle east? Were you ever there? I was. This guy, your lover, the enemy sympathizer sitting in the white house needs to get out of the way and let an American take control of America. The taliban want all infidels dead and that includes you even if you are willing to kiss their asse$. Get a clue.
drkangel: right. You need a clue. "The taliban" represent an IDEA..duh..and no change in rules of engagement will wipe out an idea - the idea of conservative muslims.
Or are you so stupid you think that, oh, all "the taliban" would line up in the open and wait for us to kill them all neatly..and that would be the end of it, that peace and happiness would magically come to afghanistan? Oh, apparently you are that stupid.
vermontguy, you just proved my theory. You have never carried a weapon or faced an enemy in your life. That is a task you gladly leave to others so you can sit back and talk about things you know nothing about. You are a typical ignorant liberal. If things turn bad here in America and your as$ is in trouble I can only hope you get to witness first hand the gentle hand of the enemies you are so quick to support and defend over Americans. You disgust me as does your messiah in the white house.
lol, I proved nothing of your "theory". You've posted nothing credible about how to solve a complex problem like afganistan. And you know nothing about my history, you'd just a fool who makes up "facts" to prove their own beliefs.
Come on, dazzle us with your brilliance on how EXACTLY to solve afganistan. Obviously you've a "legend in your own mind", it shoudl be easy. :)
drkangel
Thank you for your intelligent comments. We should NEVER negotiate with the terrorist. Obama has done nothing but encouraged them and financed their goal to destroy our country with our taxpayers money and the lives of our armed forces. If Obama is re-elected you will see the Taliban members dancing in the streets while standing over the dead bodies of our soldiers. Obama is the best thing that has ever happened to them.
Not any Obama lovers commenting this morning maybe they afraid they might loose their handouts now. I hope people realise he needs voting out.
Joe 66
Its a little early for the liberals. They were up late drinking beer, eating potato chips and watching late night TV, all bought and paid for by the taxpayers. They don't have to get up to work, just vote for whatever democrat is running.
its not too early for stupid posts, however, as joe and paul prove. lol.
I've been posting intelligent facts and observation about the real situation in afghanistan here. I know you folks prefer idiotic nonsense, but you'll have to put up with it.
Vermontguy
I went back and read your posts. I didn't see any intelligent facts or observations just vile attacks on other posters opinions.
well, paul, you must have missed the posts where I explain the difference between al quada and the taliban, and point out facts that make afghanistan a complex problem to solve.
I'm sorry you can't read. :)
Must have, what is its number?
26.3, 28.1, 32.2 as some examples of where I talk about the difference between al quada and the taliban, and how afghanistan is a complex situation where the taliban are strong political players.
Need more? or need a recommended remedial reading course suggestion? :)
How ironic, vermy is a dick and likes dick....
Vermonguy
26.3 Starts out "Stupid Post" ends with "Impress us with your Brilliance. Nothing of substance in between.
28.1 RickCarter stated a thought out opinion, all you said was that he was wrong.
32.2 Attacked DarkAngel ended with "Clue to Clueless"
Need I say more?
Only a muslim in the white house would condone safe passage to leaders of the taliban. The traitor muslim residing in the white house needs to go now and he needs to be replaced with an American.
Remember, a vote for obammy is an act of treason.
remember, a post like yours is a post for stupidity.
vermontguy, any ignorance I display can only be exceeded by liberal, democrate, socialists that vote for and support the muslim sitting in the white house. When did all you people turn against America? You should go live under taliban rule and bow to mecca a few times a day. Remember what your messiah in the white house said. "The muslim morning call to prayer is the most beautiful sound in the world." Get your prayer rug out, get on your knees and join him in his prayers to mecca.
drk: you didn't mention "commie". Fox news won't pay you unless you use all the simplistic, moronic hater words. :)
Vermster....Olbermann called and wants to see want to keep watching him on youtube...You still Rachel Mandows biggest fan right...I kinda like him.
I'd rather be a traitor than an American supremest! Maybe if this great country falls, you will learn some humiliation that we're not on top of the @!$%#ing food chain. We're not the center of the world, you know? There are other countries out there and are in a state of peace because they learned from their mistakes. America has to fight to be recognized and the only thing we're fighting for is dominance- if we're not fighting actual enemies, we're creating new ones blaiming our own problems on them. I don't like the Taliban and would like it if our Middle Eastern allies takes them out on their own along with al Qaida because that is were they are the biggest threat... but if the Taliban can be nogatiated with, let's see what happens. If not, we'll just continue this war with them well into the next administration, and if it's a Republican the Christian Right would vote for, that means alot more soldiers, alot more resources and alot more debt to fight what we already have domestically: Religious Fanaticism. We're getting out of Iraq, and now it's time to get out of Afghanistan and deal with our own problems.
"When did all you people turn against America? You should go live under taliban rule and bow to mecca a few times a day. Remember what your messiah in the white house said. "The muslim morning call to prayer is the most beautiful sound in the world." Get your prayer rug out, get on your knees and join him in his prayers to mecca."
I turn against America when the Christian taliban is trying to take over our government and I support Obama by keeping your churches' ass out instead of kissing them. I like the Channukah and Passover celebration, and I'm not even Jewish, so why shouldn't a Mulim morning call be unpleasant. So, what is he, a Marxist or a Muslm? He can't be both- they sorta conflict, don't ya think? He isn't considered a true Christian because he doesn't agree with the bible thumpers who's attitudes haven't changed much since the McCarthy witchhunt days. They don't like non-whites in power and try to be subtle but are obvious when asked the right questions about how much they hate Obama because he's a "colored" with an exotic name. They hate him because he's a liberal. They hate him because he wants to maintain a good relationship with a group of people (the Muslims) that they considered their enemy long before 9/11. They hate him because he supports gay rights, abortion rights, legal imigration rights and wants to maintain the seperation of Church and State. When his predecessor, G.W. Bush flushed us into debt from what started as a surplus, Obama became a scapegoat.
No, I won't bow down and pray to Mecca... nor will I pray to God, Jesus or the leaders that claim to represent them. My loyalty has to be earned and I won't be a sheep to a deity that haven't been proven to exist, nor will I be brainwashed into believing in anything that doesn't have some evidence to back them up. Newt is dropping out and Ron Paul really doesn't seem popular enough among the Republicans. So which is it? Romney, a member of the most screwed up cult invented in the US next to Scientology, or a secular leaning Christian everyone assumes to be of another religion based on his name and ethnic background, even if he isn't an obvious one.
This administration is criminal starting at the top. These terrorists will be visiting a highrise soon. Why do we treat our KNOWN enemies better than our citizens. This Marxist dictator has to stop already. And you know who I mean. Even you progressive libs have to agree on this one.
So true, better we should stay there forever losing many fine young men and trillions of dollars each year, in a place that has seen occupation armies and invaders come and go.
bea: thanks for a delightful illustration of "simple solutions come from simple people". You obviously don't understand anything about afghanistan.
What's a "think thank?"
That @!$%# cray
The reason the conflict is still going on is because the Americans used the
Northern Alliance to oust the Taliban. The Northern Alliance was/is primarily a
coalition of former warlords who committed war crimes during and after the
Soviet invasion. The Afghan people tolerated Taliban simply because they were
the lesser of the two evils.
After the collapse of the Taliban regime, most of the warlords were put in power in
high government positions and that is the main reason we still have bloodshed
in the country.
Some warmonger commentators like Christina113 think that "We need to take the gloves off and really start
eradicating them as soon as possible", as if the American forces
are playing by some rules when it comes to fighting the Taliban. As a matter of
fact, there was not a single suicide attack in Kabul during the Soviet
occupation and not a single Soviet soldier was ever seen patrolling the streets
of Kabul or entering people houses the way Americans are doing.
The only way to bring the conflict to a peaceful conclusion is to talk to the
Taliban and let them be part of the peace process. A majority of the Afghan
population prefer Taliban over the Northern Alliance it is a shame for some
American lawmakers to meet with opponents of the Karzai government, especially with
those who have blood on their hands.
Set the taliban up as a legitimate political party. Set up legitimate elections. Sit back and watch as the taliban are voted in as the official ruling party. Chalk up the creation of another muslim country for oboma. Why to go pres...
its already a muslim country. try to pay attention.
taliban leader "are you sure your people will like this?" obama "yes they are stupid and i have them all fooled" taliban "okay now what party are we supposed to disrupt and help you bash and if we have to kill some leading members?" obama " the republicans they still believe in democracy and free enterprise" taliban "okay my good friend together we will destroy freedom and democracy" obama "thanks friend i really need all the help i can get"
Fox "news" needs a writer. You should apply. You have all the qualities they want - mindless, childish partisanship!
The Hell? Really, aren't these the same guys that 11 years ago planned the plane crashes in the WTC?
No safe passage, only a one way ticket to Hell!
no, that was al quada. this is the taliban. Different group. I know all muslims look the same to a lot of people, but in the real world, they aren't.
History teaches this administration nothing useful. We are witnessing a redoux of 1939, but instead of British PM Neville Chamberlain waving a useless paper promise from Adolph Hitler, it's Obama waving the white flag of surrender. Everyone with an ounce of brains knows how shrewed this enemy is, no one has called off the Jihad against Western Civilization, so why should any thinking person expect that these so-called Peace talks will result in anything but allowing the Taliban to regroup, to continue training it's homicide bombers, and to continue to kill and maim everyone in its juggernaut to radical Islam! Fools, all of them!!!
I bet the women of Afghanistan are just thrilled at how we're trying to get the Taliban in for diplomacy's sake. My, how we have such short memories in our government.
I'll offer safe passage... right into the open, waiting mouth of a wood chipper.
I find it hard to believe that anyone in the USA would ever want Nato making any decision on the future of OUR country !
Obama is a moron. We have soldiers killed to capture these murdering bastards and he wants to give them back to reak further terror on America; what is he thinking. Yet another reason to believe he is just another Arab trying to inflict as much damage on America as he can. The Taliban have proven for a 100 yrs they will not stop their reign of terror. They torture people, kill, mame and terrorize their own people. Obama gives food to the enemy trying to bribe them to be good now this; Lord give us a leader with brains and just plain ole common sense. If he's elected again this country is done for. For God's sake go out and vote this man out of office, elect anybody but him.
the taliban aren't al quada. the taliban have no interest in "reak further terror on america". You need to learn more about basic facts.
Some people will say or do anything to promote their cause. Whether it is a terrorist or someone wanting to be reelected.
peace talks with the taliban??? right right
what's YOUR solution for afghanistan?
Vermont-gay
All you do is criticise anyone who posts an opinion against Obama. What is your solution to Afghanistan?
lol., "gay"? You're so clever..well, i'm sure your 12 year old friends think you are.
I think it is clear that the current gov't structure isn't working, that afghanistan has a strong conservative base (a ka the taliban), and that you can't kill them all, nor can you ignore them, so including them in talks is a reasonable approach. Whether it will be successful..who knows? There are problems that sometimes can't be solved neatly, and afghanistan may be one of them. We may have to let them find their own way.
happy now? :)
Vermont Guy
Spellcheck
Finally, not just spewing hatred. I agree, they need to find their own way. We are wasting our time, troops and money trying to legitimize them. They have been fighting for centuries and will continue.
We are in another Vietnam, yep, I remember it. Bad Memories
Vermont Guy
Its been fun, gotta go.
There are so many straight up-stupid people here! President Obama does NOT like these idiots any more than you or I. This move is designed to bring about stability in the M.E.! That is all! This way, Iran will be seen as the only stand alone country there.
Gey over yourselves righties! Obama is trying to do what is just, and right! This is something that MUST be done, even if you dont want to do it! As long as we could have Assghanistan, and Iraq, as allies, who in the M.E. will ever f--k with them, or the U.S. again?
Try to think of the bigger picture here. Wait, that will never happen! Righties think of one thing, and one thing only, make this President look bad at all costs, even treason! War mongering morons!
GO PRES.! Those of us that can see past our noses, know exactly what you are trying to accomplish! Getter Done!!!
Incredibly naive to think you can negotiate with the Taliban to achieve peace.
so..what's your solution? The taliban aren't going away, they represent a lot of afgahanis. In ten years we haven't managed to eliminate them...so...what's next in your mind?
Woo Hoo!
Obama declares the War on Terror is Over!
Mission Accomplished !
"Safe Passage" for everyone!
motoricker, the obammy administration forgot to tell the 90,000 plus troops still in Afghanistan the war is over. If it is truely over when will we bring all our military home? Just more lies by the liar-in-chief and his administration.
obama never said the war on terror is over. got a link?
Taliban ain't no friend of mine. Come out come out wherever you are....Let them celebrate and establish tyranny. It will be much easier to kill them off that way. Ground war too expensive. Daisy cutter bombs waiting in the wings.