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Afghanistan's Karzai: US 'in peace talks with Taliban' | Afghanistan's Karzai: US 'in peace talks with Taliban' |
(40 minutes later) | |
The US is engaged in talks with the Taliban, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said, in the first high-level confirmation of US involvement. | The US is engaged in talks with the Taliban, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said, in the first high-level confirmation of US involvement. |
Mr Karzai said that "foreign military and especially the US itself" were involved in peace talks with the group. | Mr Karzai said that "foreign military and especially the US itself" were involved in peace talks with the group. |
Earlier this month, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said there could be political talks with the Taliban by the end of this year. | Earlier this month, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said there could be political talks with the Taliban by the end of this year. |
The US is due to start withdrawing its 97,000 troops from Afghanistan in July. | The US is due to start withdrawing its 97,000 troops from Afghanistan in July. |
It aims to gradually hand over all security operations to Afghan security forces by 2014. | It aims to gradually hand over all security operations to Afghan security forces by 2014. |
Summer of fighting | Summer of fighting |
"In the course of this year, there have been peace talks with the Taliban and our own countrymen," Mr Karzai told a Kabul news conference on Saturday. | |
"Peace talks have started with them already and it is going well. Foreign militaries, especially the United States of America, are going ahead with these negotiations." | |
It's always been assumed that the US is reaching out directly to the Taliban, but this is the first high-level official confirmation. | It's always been assumed that the US is reaching out directly to the Taliban, but this is the first high-level official confirmation. |
The exact identity of the Americans' negotiating partner is not known whether they are talking to a go-between or to somebody with authority. | The exact identity of the Americans' negotiating partner is not known whether they are talking to a go-between or to somebody with authority. |
Neither is it known what is on the table: The assumption is that these are talks about talks rather than something more substantive. | Neither is it known what is on the table: The assumption is that these are talks about talks rather than something more substantive. |
No one should expect quick results from whatever contacts may be taking place. The prediction from all sides - Nato, the Afghan government and the Taliban itself - is for another summer of hard fighting ahead, and probably many more summers after that. | No one should expect quick results from whatever contacts may be taking place. The prediction from all sides - Nato, the Afghan government and the Taliban itself - is for another summer of hard fighting ahead, and probably many more summers after that. |
He gave no details as to whether the discussions involved Taliban officials with US authorities, or a go-between. | |
The official Taliban position is that international forces must leave Afghanistan before it will get involved in peace talks, and then only with the Afghan government. | |
Diplomats have previously spoken of preliminary talks being held by both sides in the continuing conflict. | Diplomats have previously spoken of preliminary talks being held by both sides in the continuing conflict. |
On Friday, the UN split a sanctions blacklist for the Taliban and al-Qaeda, to encourage the Taliban to join reconciliation efforts. | On Friday, the UN split a sanctions blacklist for the Taliban and al-Qaeda, to encourage the Taliban to join reconciliation efforts. |
Before now, both organisations have been handled by the same UN sanctions committee. | Before now, both organisations have been handled by the same UN sanctions committee. |
The UN Security Council said it was sending a signal to the Taliban that now is the time to join the political process. | The UN Security Council said it was sending a signal to the Taliban that now is the time to join the political process. |
The US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said in a statement that the move sent "a clear message to the Taliban that there is a future for those who separate from al-Qaeda, renounce violence and abide by the Afghan constitution". | The US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said in a statement that the move sent "a clear message to the Taliban that there is a future for those who separate from al-Qaeda, renounce violence and abide by the Afghan constitution". |
The Taliban ruled Afghanistan before being driven from power by US-backed forces in 2001. | The Taliban ruled Afghanistan before being driven from power by US-backed forces in 2001. |
It had sheltered al-Qaeda and its leader Osama Bin Laden. | It had sheltered al-Qaeda and its leader Osama Bin Laden. |