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Afghanistan's Karzai: US in peace talks with Taliban | |
(about 4 hours 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. |
Hours later, suicide bombers attacked a Kabul police station, killing nine. | Hours later, suicide bombers attacked a Kabul police station, killing nine. |
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. | "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." | "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." |
The heart of Kabul was a battleground. | The heart of Kabul was a battleground. |
Suicide bombers attacked a police station just half a mile from the presidential compound where, hours earlier, President Karzai was talking about hopes for peace. | Suicide bombers attacked a police station just half a mile from the presidential compound where, hours earlier, President Karzai was talking about hopes for peace. |
Talks with the Taliban have started. These though are just contacts, talks about talks, rather than substantive negotiations. | Talks with the Taliban have started. These though are just contacts, talks about talks, rather than substantive negotiations. |
Quick results are unlikely. Nato, the Afghan government and the Taliban themselves all expect another summer of hard fighting and probably many more. | Quick results are unlikely. Nato, the Afghan government and the Taliban themselves all expect another summer of hard fighting and probably many more. |
If President Karzai is right though, it appears that one important thing has changed - the Taliban have always maintained that they would not negotiate until foreign troops left. It seems that position is starting to soften. | If President Karzai is right though, it appears that one important thing has changed - the Taliban have always maintained that they would not negotiate until foreign troops left. It seems that position is starting to soften. |
He gave no details as to whether the discussions involved Taliban officials with US authorities, or a go-between. | He gave no details as to whether the discussions involved Taliban officials with US authorities, or a go-between. |
Shortly after the announcement, a number of suicide bombers attacked a police station near the finance ministry in the Afghan capital. The interior ministry said there were three bombers, but other officials said there were four. | Shortly after the announcement, a number of suicide bombers attacked a police station near the finance ministry in the Afghan capital. The interior ministry said there were three bombers, but other officials said there were four. |
The Taliban said they carried out the attack. | The Taliban said they carried out the attack. |
The Afghan interior ministry said nine people were killed: five civilians, three police officers and one intelligence official. Twelve people - 10 civilians and two police - were also injured. The attack has now ended. | The Afghan interior ministry said nine people were killed: five civilians, three police officers and one intelligence official. Twelve people - 10 civilians and two police - were also injured. The attack has now ended. |
''A group of suicide attackers got inside police district one," Mohammad Ayub Salangi, Kabul's police chief, told the BBC. "We surrounded the area.'' | ''A group of suicide attackers got inside police district one," Mohammad Ayub Salangi, Kabul's police chief, told the BBC. "We surrounded the area.'' |
One of the bombers detonated his suicide vest, while two others were shot dead by police. Some reports said a fourth bomber was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces. | One of the bombers detonated his suicide vest, while two others were shot dead by police. Some reports said a fourth bomber was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces. |
The BBC's Paul Wood in Kabul says the attack is part of the Taliban strategy to strike at the heart of government. | The BBC's Paul Wood in Kabul says the attack is part of the Taliban strategy to strike at the heart of government. |
Paradoxically, he says, the greater the likelihood of peace talks, the more Nato and the Taliban will press their military campaigns in a bid to ensure they go into negotiations with an advantage. | Paradoxically, he says, the greater the likelihood of peace talks, the more Nato and the Taliban will press their military campaigns in a bid to ensure they go into negotiations with an advantage. |
Meanwhile, insurgents attacked two convoys supplying Nato troops in the eastern province of Ghazni, police said. Four Afghan security guards escorting the trucks were reportedly killed by roadside bombs. | Meanwhile, insurgents attacked two convoys supplying Nato troops in the eastern province of Ghazni, police said. Four Afghan security guards escorting the trucks were reportedly killed by roadside bombs. |
Sanctions list split | Sanctions list split |
The Taliban's official position regarding peace talks is that it will only negotiate once international forces leave Afghanistan, and that it will only talk to the Afghan government. | The Taliban's official position regarding peace talks is that it will only negotiate once international forces leave Afghanistan, and that it will only talk to 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. |
The US has yet to comment on Mr Karzai's statement. | The US has yet to comment on Mr Karzai's statement. |
The UK said it supported "Afghan-led efforts to reconcile and reintegrate members of the insurgency who are prepared to renounce violence, cut links with terrorist groups, and accept the constitution". | The UK said it supported "Afghan-led efforts to reconcile and reintegrate members of the insurgency who are prepared to renounce violence, cut links with terrorist groups, and accept the constitution". |
"In view of the death of Osama Bin Laden, it is time for the Taliban/insurgency to positively engage in the political process," said a statement from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. | "In view of the death of Osama Bin Laden, it is time for the Taliban/insurgency to positively engage in the political process," said a statement from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. |
Col Richard Kemp, a former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, said there was currently no prospect for successful peace talks with the Taliban. | |
"The only possibility that could happen is if they as a movement are defeated and there's no prospect of that happening in the near future." | "The only possibility that could happen is if they as a movement are defeated and there's no prospect of that happening in the near future." |
He said the objective of international forces in Afghanistan should be to encourage malleable elements of the Taliban to split away from the hard-core leadership of Mullah Mohammad Omar, thereby weakening the group. | He said the objective of international forces in Afghanistan should be to encourage malleable elements of the Taliban to split away from the hard-core leadership of Mullah Mohammad Omar, thereby weakening the group. |
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 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, Bin Laden. | It had sheltered al-Qaeda and its leader, Bin Laden. |