E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSKABUL -- Pakistan is genuine about backing the nascent Afghan peace process and shares the Kabul government's goal of transforming the Taliban insurgency into a political movement, a senior Afghan government official told Reuters.
"They have told us that they share the vision contained in our roadmap which is basically to transform the Taliban from a military entity into a political entity to enable them to take part in the Afghan political process and peacefully seek power like any other political entity in Afghanistan, he said.
"This is the vision that they share."
The official, who is closely involved in reconciliation efforts, said recent face-to-face talks between senior Taliban members and Afghan officials in France were an "enormously helpful" step in building a wider environment for peace.
Until now, the Taliban and Afghan officials only made indirect contacts.
The official's remarks signaled unprecedented optimism from Afghanistan that Pakistan - long accused of backing Afghan insurgent groups - was now willing to put its weight behind reconciliation efforts, which are still in early stages and are vulnerable to factionalism.
"We are very optimistic. We believe that they are genuine in this discussion with us," said the senior government official.
The senior official cautioned, however, that in order to sustain that optimism, Pakistan would need to take further concrete steps after releasing some mid-level Afghan Taliban members from detention, who may be useful in promoting peace.
The nuclear-armed South Asian nation, a strategic U.S. ally, is seen as critical to U.S. and Afghan efforts to stabilize the country before most NATO combat troops withdraw by the end of 2014.
Warring factions
Pakistan's powerful army chief has made reconciling warring factions in Afghanistan a top priority, Pakistani military officials and Western diplomats told Reuters, the clearest signal yet that Islamabad means business in promoting peace with the Taliban.
General Ashfaq Kayani, arguably the most powerful man in Pakistan, is backing dialogue partly due to fears that the end of the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan in 2014 could energize a resilient insurgency straddling the shared frontier, according to commanders deployed in the region.
The senior Afghan government official has a similar assessment.
"I think there is a sense that we are also getting, that cooperation from Pakistan now is bound to be meaningful, substantive," he said.
"The reason is frankly, most in Pakistan, in our view, have reached the conclusion that time is running out. That it is no longer just about Afghanistan's instability and Afghanistan's insecurity but it's very much a question of security for themselves."
The Haqqani network -- which has far more experience in guerrilla warfare than the Afghan Taliban - would be welcomed to the peace process as long as it met certain conditions, said the official.
"From our point of view, the door of peace is open to anyone. The Haqqanis are a pretty challenging group of people," he said.
"But if they choose to come over to the peace process, then I am sure the peace process will include them."
Pakistan's intelligence agency denies Afghan accusations that it uses the Haqqani network and other militant groups as proxies to counter the influence of rival India in Afghanistan.
The Haqqanis are blamed for a number of high-profile attacks on Western targets, including embassies, in Kabul, highlighting the resilience of insurgents after years of fighting Western forces equipped with superior firepower and technology.
(Additional reporting by Mehreeen Zahra Malik in Wana and Matthew Green in Islamabad; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
More world stories from NBC News:
- North Korea missiles could reach US, says South
- At Egypt polling stations, strong sentiments for and against
- Germany's latest big export: Christmas markets
- 6-year-old girl shot in face by Taliban and left for dead gets free surgery in US
- Video: How Will and Kate are spending the holidays
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
Leave a Comment:
Pakistan, Afghanistan trying to turn Taliban into political movement
I'd hate to be that candidate.. I can see some possibilities for some Tea Party members though.
It makes perfect sense for those who've been the source of tremendous blood shed, slaughtering innocent women and children,to now seek for political positions.For evil will always seek for more power from which to gain more control over those it doesn't have yet, never satisfied, like an addiction which continuously demands to be fed. Now it demands support From those same villages and masques they have bombed and everyone they have targeted who dared stand in the way of their plans.
I dare say the people will not have forgotten those who have caused the ground to flow red with the blood spilled.For hearts which are capable of such monstrous acts, cold savagery and lack of humanity cannot be changed. One can expect any who take up leadership to continue, only with the power that comes with the backing of the office they would be granted.
Thomas, Illinois.....
Spoken like a true Progressive and an Illinois uninformed person. But what the hey, just get in the Social Welfare line behind FLYeisty.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Folks who think they can change "TERRORISTS" into law abiding citizens are living under a mushroom, just like Progressive political hacks.
Sounds like Ido is still crying about the loss of his wonder-boy Romney. Just show up to insult the winning majority huh? Grow up son.
Comical you would say this considering your beloved Obama administration has given this probability the green light via the State Department AND liberal think tanks are more worried about how our soldiers treat enemy combatants of the Taliban variety than how they conspire to hurt our troops. Libs would give Muslim extremists every right they could on American soil.
Is this entire argument going to turn into another LIBS LIBS LIBS REPUBS REPUBS REPUBS crapfest? Do you guys have to do this in EVERY SINGLE FRELLING TOPIC? Both of your parties suck. Shut your mouths and stay on topic.
To be frank, I kind of prefer this step forward. If it ends the bloodshed, it means less death, more pandering. At least, that's my hope from all of this. I really don't agree with the safe haven that Pakistan and such have given our enemies, but if this means they go from genocidal martyrs into sleazeballs in nice jackets, like our politicians, I'm all for it.
Taliban to turn political? As in they arent already political? One need look no further than the modern day GOP to see what happens when conservatives turn political. Lots of similarities there.
Thomas from Illinois, I hear they are looking at a Jackass for their mascot.
Why not turn it into a political movement........it worked for Obama. Promise the misled and ignorant masses that they will be better off and they will follow.
We are witnessing history here in this country..........Obama's form of government has never worked no matter how often it has been tried..........it won't this time either but I don't remember a country ever recovering. Maybe Germany.........but that was only because of the work ethic of the German people and the homogeneous composition of their population. Obviously, the USA doesn't have either.
1. I don't blame Pakistan it would get our drone attacks out of their hair.
2. I would imagine that elections would some serious pole watchers.
3 If the Taliban were to come to office it would be the same type of strict ruling only on paper instead on every street corner. They would have Laws like, all males will grow a beard.
4. For the Afghans it would be the same old crap dished out by someone in a suit instead of someone toating an AK-47.
5. People would live under strict Jihadist Law.
Yeh, I can see a whole lot of good coming out of that idea. I'll bet the Talibans eyes are rolling happy faces. My question is why give them an inlet? If the Taliban cashes in on the raw materials in Afghanistan, I'm sure it will be worked out of the ground and processed by Slave Labor. So far cards are being put on the table and the Taliban are picking them up, but how much are they willing to Ante up?
The problem is a terrorist is a terrorist whether he is in a suit or carrying an AK-47... Look at Hamas, Israel tried to allow those terrorists to be a political party and what did it get them a political party that uses terrorist tactics.. NOTHING has changed... What do you think would happen if the Talliscum are NOT voted into power once they become a "political party"??? Do you think they will say, well, the people have spoken lets put down our guns and go home??? IF ANYONE ON THIS VINE THINKS SO or IF ANYONE IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM THINKS SO then they are DUMBER THAN A ROCK!!!! They will continue to fight ANY GOVERNMENT NOT CONTROLLED BY THEM... Any government that does not institute STRICT Sharia law... Any government that does not REQUIRE WOMEN BE SUBSERVIENT TO MEN... Any government that does NOT CONDEMN THE WEST AND ALL WE STAND FOR... Peace for the Talliscum means destruction of the West and complete control to themselves to RULE ALL OTHERS...
It is a shame and I hate to use stereotypes but people in the Middle East are SO USED to fighting that they don't know any other way of life... For them a 3,000 year old feud is as real today as the day the fight began... Even amongst themselves they fight between Sunni and Shiate(?)... Kurds and Turks... The list goes on and on... Most don't know democracy and have lived their entire lives under someones rule... Be it home grown or colonialism... One after another that region has gone from one ruler to another up until modern 20th century and even now in the 21st century... Our VANE efforts to insist on installing a "democracy" over there is ILL PLACED and will NEVER TAKE HOLD...
Talliscum as a political party... Ha, Ha, Ha, that kills me... Oh, better be careful they just might...
The Taliban needs to accept human rights laws. Are there any indication that the Taliban have accepted living in peace, and giving their women rights as any other in the free world? Can anyone guarantee that human rights will be protected under any new leadership (Taliban political party)? They allowed and protected the attack on our citizens. They might start out with talking peace, than slowly take over Afghanistan, and then go back to the dark ages with their stadium killings and primitive ways. The war dead and funds spent accomplished nothing.
"They have told us that they share the vision contained in our roadmap which is basically to transform the Taliban from a military entity into a political entity to enable them to take part in the Afghan political process and peacefully seek power like any other political entity in Afghanistan, he said."
In that case, why did we enter into war in Afghanistan?
Osama was found in Pakistan.
It is most surprising that even after spending huge monies and losing soldiers, Taliban will have a say!
Pakistan is going to be a strategic ally.
So old dumb policies, which fell flat on face, are going to continue.
Pour money, arms and stand there for some more backstabbing!
Yeah, maybe they can line up behind Egypt for foreign aid from the American peoples taxdollars.
This has been a long time coming. These countries are broken, split into pieces. Finally they have a common goal of progress for all their citizens, to reintegrate and bring social unity. To recognize all of their groups as legitimate.
@ThaMonkeh,
"To be frank, I kind of prefer this step forward. If it ends the bloodshed, it means less death, more pandering. At least, that's my hope from all of this. I really don't agree with the safe haven that Pakistan and such have given our enemies, but if this means they go from genocidal martyrs into sleazeballs in nice jackets, like our politicians, I'm all for it."
While I may have been only 6 in 2001 when this war started it has been a huge topic of conversation at home ever since. .
Ummmm.............Call me crazy but how exactly did it work out the last time the Taliban were in power. Nothing says that you are the official political party of the religion of peace, love and
frightI mean light (oops my bad) quite like Sharia Law (insert Starship sized Sarcasm Here ;) Look up how life was under Taliban Rule."SATURDAY JAN. 3: I AM AFRAID
I had a terrible dream yesterday with military helicopters and the Taliban. I have had such dreams since the launch of the military operation in Swat. My mother made me breakfast and I went off to school. I was afraid going to school because the Taliban had issued an edict banning all girls from attending schools.
Only 11 students attended the class out of 27. The number decreased because of Taliban’s edict. My three friends have shifted to Peshawar, Lahore and Rawalpindi with their families after this edict.
On my way from school to home I heard a man saying "I will kill you." I hastened my pace and after a while I looked back if the man was still coming behind me. But to my utter relief he was talking on his mobile and must have been threatening someone else over the phone." - Malala Yousafzai, then in Grade 7, Source: h-ttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/in-her-words-malala-yousafzais-chronicle-of-life-under-the-taliban/article4600066/?page=all
Point Being:
Keep on doing the same old thing
And you expecting change
Well is that really insanity
Or just a losers' game? - Usher's Numb Lyrics 2012 - Personally I prefer this over Einstein's quote as it seems to fit our times better :(
On 12/09/2012 was a radio broadcast of Cleveland City Cub on 96.5 at 6:00am but can be viewed on youtube:
h-ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcUaYpxWYAI&list=UUKf3bixa-gvh3Yb2rCd8wwQ&index=9
Aaron David Miller, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
VP for New Initiatives & Distinguished Scholar - Spent two decades as a Senior Advisor to the State Dept. on the Middle East. Very interesting lecture and he points out what is working, what is not working, and what probably should be done.
Pakistan is going through a civil war. Which Islamist section will get the nukes?
Just bomb Paki nuke areas and be done with it!
Guess these clowns have not learned a thing..... The Taliban is an terrorist organization that will only be happy when they control THEIR WAY..... Get us out of there already.....
Beware of morons at work.
How do I see it changing? Seeing as Christianity was founded on stoning non-believers to death, our history was us literally stealing the land of the Indians, and the fact that almost every heritage is stained with rivers of blood... I can see it changing. Change can occur, though it usually takes time, IE, several generations. This is just a stepping stone. People seem to forget their own history, yet call out everyone else when they screw up...
When the Taliban was in charge in Afghanistan.
During 2001 the Taliban had DECREASED poppy production by 91% according to the UN. After the US/UK invasion & later UN control,
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that the 2006 harvest was around 6,100 tons, 33 times its level in 2001, a 3,200 per cent increase in five years.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2102158/Heroin-production-Afghanistan-RISEN-61.html#ixzz2GJreYeYG
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Prior to the USSR invasion 1981 (prompted by the CIA's intervention), Afghanistan had a growing economy, was building a modern infastructure and was one of the more modern Middle East Countries... see http://www.defence.pk/forums/general-images-multimedia/114797-afghanistan-before-soviet-invasion.html
Just add Afghanistan to the countries where flip-flop wearing and horse riding forces have kicked the most modern troops A$$...
These suckers have no respect for human life, and they don't embody the
Texas(American) standard of life, which holds morality above everything else.There, all fixed..
When Islamic high dosage have turned many Muslims haters and killers into beasts, how can you expect "respect for human life"?
I think the first thing is they will do is, try to get as much money as possible, and then kill you.
Both Paki and Afghan leaders sucked as much money and facilities as possible.
They will continue to do them more and more!
You see: Pakis have nukes, Pakis are strategic allies, we have to encourage moderate Muslim elements and so on and on..
In the US, we will have budget battles for each million while these people get away with hundred of millions.
Also when the things go tough for the inventors of problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan, welcome to the US, Britain and other European nations.
Gen Mush, the biggest backstabber and criminal, is in London enjoying our money and his son is in the US.
More like Karzai will join the crowd!
Hope top decision makers are not battling women like intelligence chief and NATO chief in Afghanistan.
Taliban political process. Vote for the Taliban or you and your family will DIE.
Afghanistan + Pakistan = Crapistan
Deserve to be made into Desertistan!
Spray pork to make it Cleanistan!
"Spray pork to make it Cleanistan"
Ummmm.......that would be a waste of good bacon
Is there no hope for these people?
I am beginning to doubt it. They appear to be too much like a cult that will do whatever they are told and their religious beliefs are to kill anyone that does not have the same belief. The violence should have already been gone and the text book for their beliefs corrected to respect all life, no matter what.
Religious crusades like theirs tend to last lifetimes. There will probably be no peace within these people for at least another generation or more. There is hope, but the actions show that the answer is not soon.
How people forget that Christianity started as a cult designed to destroy judaism and has since risen to be a cult that designs your life for you and has your people killed in the millions to keep it that way.
Lore&Wisdom
These
suckersTaliban have no respect for human life, and they don't embody theTexas(American)Golden rule standard of life, which holdsmoralityCharity above everything elseIt's not the bizarre suggestion that the Taliban may become a legitimate political party that haunts me so much as the overtone of the article seems to suggest this is a positive. Maybe I'm not getting it...? Wouldn't this be a nasty step in the wrong direction?
I view it as a step that would become a dictatorship.
A dictatorship. LOL It's way way worse than a dictatorship already, at least under a dictatorship your not owned as a female like in radical (aka the Taliban) Islam. These people are pathetic. Obama after 4+ years, you just don't get it Mr. President. And everyone say's "your a smart man", yeah sure, insanity doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. Get us out of there NOW!!! This is YOUR war not W's anymore.......
In its best light.....it is the Taliban trying to be accepted by those it has murdered/injured. In its worst light, it is the Taliban wanting to take over both countries, via the political process. Both ideas, not good. When the Taliban aren't killing Americans, then they are killing other Muslims who don't agree with what their interpretation of the Koran and the following history that they deem correct. They have blood and killing in their hearts.
Here is a thought. Some of these men started fighting at age 16 and are now 35-40, the only thing they know is fighting. these men are true professional fighters. Many do not know what peaceful coexistance is.
Well, why not? They all suddenly see the advantage of democracy with Egypt as their example.
When the mindless vote by their faith these hard core Islamist groups will turn the political process into a religious contest.
Against US friendly governments and corrupt party leaders. That have only helped in the peoples hatred for anything about the west.
And in the peoples stupidity and ignorence they will win everytime, as Islamist, not the terrorist that they are. Once they win it will be to late by the time the people realise they have been fooled they will already be to far into the grip of repressive Islamic ways.
Good. Let them become political. Then we will know who to kill. Since they've declared war on our country, we can kill them for the rabid dogs that they are under the declaration of war.
If I may be so bold, AHMEN to that!
Wait, the taliban have been a political party for some time now right here in America. They refer to themselves as the republican teabag taliban party and they have been running amok with little regard to the carnage they do to the American middle class and poor. The second domestic terrorist cell entrenched in American is the nra and a large portion of their membership. And just like the taliban they advocate American vs. American murder and assault weapon violence against everyone with a bias towards women and children. But luckily the rational thinking majority of Americans are now completely rejecting these terrorist political cells at elections and in 2014 and again in 2016 Americans will put theses neocon extremists in to the political dung heap of history and America will no longer be held hostage by these crazies.......good riddance!
They become a political outfit, they become one hell of a lot more dangerous than they are now. The military will be in their corner. They'll have control of the nukes. You're talking about a country of 180m, with 2/3 of the population under age 30; under a Taliban administration, that translates to a young country producing lots of babies to turn into fighters. You're also talking about a country which is a natural ally to China and needs to be a client state of someone. China is more than capable of filling any vacancy left by the US. China also has tens of millions of extra young men for which there are no women. China and Pakistan share a gold-laden common enemy called India; capture India's gold and China has the gold-backed global reserve currency it desires along with the means to bankroll Pakistan as a client state with a ready and growing pool of fighters. You'd be looking at a nuclear-armed alliance capable of easily mustering 100m troops, backed by a true hard currency reserve currency.
G-man wake-up call to your massive brain fart! The Taliban controls so many regions without policing because they are the only ones armed. Just like in America, cops are not everywhere. If the citizens in Afghanistian and Pakistian were armed the Taliban would have a much tougher time controlling the public. I am no Republican but you sir are full of crap. Taking your rights away daily has been legalized by the Democratic party more than any other over the last forty years. Stop drinking the Kool-Aid and wake the F-up. Just upchucking what you hear and read in sound bites has softened your brain. Check all the major laws passed in the last forty years by federal and state government subjugating your freedoms. I guarantee you 85 percent are by so-called Democrats. You may also be a little unbalanced time to change the meds!
G-Man we elected a Taliban as President.
you associate your real name with a ridiculous comment like that? Wait-- nevermind....
The Taliban are a warring throwback to tribal man. They will never be a peaceful party. If you believe so you already have one foot in the grave.....
Wait a minute!
"....said recent face-to-face talks between senior Taliban members and Afghan officials in France were an "enormously helpful" step ...."
Senior Taliban members were in France? They met in France? Not in some godforsaken rocky outcrop in AfPak?
F**k the taliban and you too Thomas Illinois if you think Americans are anything like those chicken sheets. I see nobody in this country putting explosives on kids, shooting kids in the face because their parents do not support them, stoning women just cause they can. Yeah Thomas, your another chicken sheet douche bag that says what they want on the net cause your safe. p**sy!
F**k the taliban and you too Thomas Ilinois for even comparing your fellow Americans to those chicken sheet pigs asses. I see no Rep chaining explosives to kids and or adults, I see no Rep shooting kids in face because their parents do not agree with them, I see no Rep stoning women just cause they can. Your a big man on the internet aren't you say anything you want without fear huh lol.
dont fool yourself
they already walk the street hand in hand
the sad thing is usa supports it while they kill our kids
I do wish you would stop refering to our soldiers as our kids. These young men and women are adults and have already overcome more obstcles the you ever thought about. Refering to them as kids is belittling to them. They already know they are 10 steps above you. So stop insulting our troops.
Taliban from military insurgency to political movement? I'd call it a palace coup waiting for a time and place to happen.
The smartest thing the Taliban could do at this point is allow themselves to be co-opted into the political process; look at the cards they're holding. The Pakistani military would rather co-opt them than confront them, especially when you factor in the impending draw-down of US firepower. Then there are the internal dynamics of the Pakistani military: a number of personnel share the same political and religious ideology as the Taliban. Co-opt the Taliban/Haqquanis and, in theory, your internal problems go away. The Taliban/Haqquanis would be going into a political process where the best organized, best connected people share views similar to their own; they certainly would not be going into the game as a start-up outfit. And then look at the tomato can Pakistan has for a president.
If the Taliban/Haqquanis finally figure out how not to be their own worst enemy, they could very quickly and easily get everything they want via the political process; support from the military would be automatic. The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow: access to Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.
I don't see Pakistan giving them the nuc. I think that pakistan wants its trade back with Afghanistan and the are thinking of the old addage, keep your friends lose and your enamies closer. Pakistan also has several different factions in it Government and they seam to try get something done without stepping on oneanothers toes. They have a bigger headache than the Dems and Repubs here.
Why not take a page out of Obama's handbook. He turned his socialist/Marxist ideas into a political movement. The dumb masses will believe in anything as long as there is something in it for them.
so will people who make dumb comments like you.
What Pakistan and Aghanistan are saying is that they are selling out their countries to radical Islamic terrorists. The Taliban desires the overthrow of the embattled, moderate democratic nations of Pakistan and Afghanistan and the imposition of radical Islamic dictatorships in those 2 nations. They can't make a deal with them anymore than we could have made a deal with the Nazis. The Taliban will not rest until democracy is destroyed and freedom is crushed. Pakistan and Afghanistan will be 2 more nations under the yoke of radical Islamic tyranny.
interesting,so they will be afghanistans version of the republican party eh?
One other school of thought, I do not think legitimizing the Taliban by making them into political figures would benefit anyone. If they come out in the open, it would fully expose the organization. Like many politicians, the world over, they would give up their brethren in a heart beat for money and increased power. Let them come forward to negotiate easier to track and control known entities.
Like forces repel each other and that is why there is so much hate between conservative republicans and the Taliban.
Yes you heard it here, France is the latest US ally allowing the Taliban to live in their country.
And how much federal (taxpayer) aid did the USA send to France last year??
I am looking forward to paying my $2,400.00 in additional taxes just so I can see the results of of the 110 billion in tax cuts. Reducing the federal governments spending by 8% is a drop in the bucket compared to my $2,400.00 but so be it. They need to cut the federal budget by 8% for the next twenty years!
ALSO, Stop providing incentives to procreate!
I can just hear their party platform now. "Would you rather the Americans come over here and kill us, or would you rather WE kill YOU instead?" The Taliban has no political motivation. They are bloodthirsty murderers who hide their organized crime and drug trafficking behind the name of a religion that they do not even practice! Get all US personnel out of both countries and just let them kill each other to the point where India can successfully overrun them.
Ido, riley, glove: hmmm i haven't been 'drinking any koolaid' (who started that cute phrase? Hannity, limbaugh? yeah, glove, you really can think for yourself)
Gman has it right. The militia movement (that supported McVeigh) has indeed gone political in the form of their media-front, the tea party. So if they are allowed to do it, why not their counterparts, the taliban?
I've seen the ralleys, heard the conversations. These people buy guns illegally and they do not respect democracy. Many of them have a well-polished rap that even sounds thoughtful, but if you listen long enough, it's just a thin veneer disguising a racist and hateful mindset.