RFE/RL – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Author): “Afghanistan Invites Taliban Leadership To Direct Peace Talks”, Document #1329142

Afghanistan Invites Taliban Leadership To Direct Peace Talks

KABUL -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has invited the Taliban leadership to direct talks with his government, while urging Pakistan to help with negotiations.

Karzai said earlier that his government talks to the Taliban "every day" through intermediaries about a potential settlement of the Afghan conflict, and that he had already communicated indirectly with Mullah Mohammad Omar, who heads the Taliban's Quetta Shura.

In a related development, a member of Afghanistan's High Peace Council said he was optimistic about the outcome of potential peace talks with the Taliban.

Ismail Qasim Yar told RFE/RL that "until recently, the Taliban leadership would say they wouldn't start negotiations if there was even one American soldier in Afghanistan."

But now, he said, with tens of thousands of U.S. troops still in Afghanistan, the Taliban has been "engaged in talks with U.S. officials for some months."

He added that the first steps were being taken to pave the way for direct peace talks, which he said could begin "soon."

So far preliminary issues, such as an exchange of prisoners, are being discussed.

The 70-member Peace Council was set up two years ago.

ecoi.net description:: President Karzai invited Taliban leadership to peace talks with his government
Country:: Afghanistan
Source:: RFE/RL – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Author)
Original link:: http://www.rferl.org/content/afghan_peace_council_member_optimistic_on_taliban_talks/24491168.html
Document type:: Media Report
Language:: English
Published:: 21 February 2012
Document ID:: 1329142 (former ID 210669)