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Release of US soldier Bowe Bergdahl revives hopes for Afghan peace process Release of US soldier Bowe Bergdahl revives hopes for Afghan peace process
(about 1 hour later)
A US soldier dramatically released in Afghanistan this weekend after five years in captivity is being flown to Germany, after a prisoner exchange that has revived hopes for Afghanistan's slow, sputtering peace process.A US soldier dramatically released in Afghanistan this weekend after five years in captivity is being flown to Germany, after a prisoner exchange that has revived hopes for Afghanistan's slow, sputtering peace process.
Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was freed on Saturday evening in exchange for five senior Taliban held at Guantánamo Bay, is to receive treatment at a German hospital. He was able to walk to safety but was apparently having problems speaking English, officials said.Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was freed on Saturday evening in exchange for five senior Taliban held at Guantánamo Bay, is to receive treatment at a German hospital. He was able to walk to safety but was apparently having problems speaking English, officials said.
The deal may bolster Taliban moderates, who favour trying to negotiate an end to years of war, in their arguments with hardliners, who want only to fight. "It could help a bit, as it shows that you can actually get something tangible from talking," said one western diplomat in Kabul.The deal may bolster Taliban moderates, who favour trying to negotiate an end to years of war, in their arguments with hardliners, who want only to fight. "It could help a bit, as it shows that you can actually get something tangible from talking," said one western diplomat in Kabul.
In return for one very junior US soldier, the Taliban have secured the release of several important men, including a founding member of the movement, Khairullah Khairkhwa; a former head of the army, Fazl Mazlum; the deputy intelligence chief Abdulhaq Wasiq; and the former commander of northern Afghanistan, Nurullah Nuri.In return for one very junior US soldier, the Taliban have secured the release of several important men, including a founding member of the movement, Khairullah Khairkhwa; a former head of the army, Fazl Mazlum; the deputy intelligence chief Abdulhaq Wasiq; and the former commander of northern Afghanistan, Nurullah Nuri.
A deal first mooted in 2011 suddenly became a real possibility in recent weeks after hardline insurgent commanders previously firmly opposed to the exchange suddenly shifted their position, Reuters news agency reported, citing senior US officials involved in the complex diplomatic process. A deal first mooted in 2011 suddenly became a real possibility in recent weeks after hardline insurgent commanders previously firmly opposed to the exchange suddenly shifted their position, Reuters reported, citing senior US officials involved in the complex diplomatic process.
The men must stay in Qatar for at least a year as a safeguard against them immediately returning to the battlefield, but will be reunited with their families there and able to meet other members of the insurgent group, sources said.The men must stay in Qatar for at least a year as a safeguard against them immediately returning to the battlefield, but will be reunited with their families there and able to meet other members of the insurgent group, sources said.
Talks first launched as part of a broader peace initiative three years ago broke down within weeks under the harsh glare of publicity. Taliban footsoldiers rebelled against the idea of their leaders talking peace while they fought and died, but the commanders did not shelve their plans.Talks first launched as part of a broader peace initiative three years ago broke down within weeks under the harsh glare of publicity. Taliban footsoldiers rebelled against the idea of their leaders talking peace while they fought and died, but the commanders did not shelve their plans.
Last year the Taliban briefly opened an official headquarters in Qatar that was meant as a base for negotiations. Qatar's rulers were key to the prisoner swap and wider talks. Last year, the Taliban briefly opened an official headquarters in Qatar that was meant as a base for negotiations. Qatar's rulers were key to the prisoner swap and wider talks. But that office effectively closed down after the Taliban put up a flag and a plaque that made it resemble an embassy for a government-in-exile. The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, withdrew from the talks in fury, saying they were legitimising the militant group.
But that office effectively closed down after the Taliban put up a flag and a plaque that made it resemble an embassy for a government-in-exile. The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, withdrew from the talks in fury, saying they were legitimising the militant group.
The prisoner exchange that was finally concluded this week was a narrow effort focused on Bergdahl's release, US officials said. It was conducted through the Qataris because the Taliban refused to deal directly with Washington.The prisoner exchange that was finally concluded this week was a narrow effort focused on Bergdahl's release, US officials said. It was conducted through the Qataris because the Taliban refused to deal directly with Washington.
The US has pledged to keep forces in Afghanistan for two more years, delaying any Taliban hopes of a military victory, and both diplomats and senior Afghan officials with Taliban ties said they thought the deal could help moderates push for a wider process.The US has pledged to keep forces in Afghanistan for two more years, delaying any Taliban hopes of a military victory, and both diplomats and senior Afghan officials with Taliban ties said they thought the deal could help moderates push for a wider process.
"This is a very important step releasing the senior Taliban, which will help us on the path to peace in Afghanistan," said Hakimullah Mujahid, who was once a senior diplomat under the Taliban government and is now deputy head of the high peace council in Kabul, charged by Karzai with brokering a deal."This is a very important step releasing the senior Taliban, which will help us on the path to peace in Afghanistan," said Hakimullah Mujahid, who was once a senior diplomat under the Taliban government and is now deputy head of the high peace council in Kabul, charged by Karzai with brokering a deal.
"The high peace council has been trying from the start to remove obstacles to peace in Afghanistan, and one of them is the prisoners in Guantánamo … we will have their trust, which we did not before"."The high peace council has been trying from the start to remove obstacles to peace in Afghanistan, and one of them is the prisoners in Guantánamo … we will have their trust, which we did not before".
US officials were cautiously optimistic that the exchange could have positive long-term implications. "Maybe this could provide some possible new bridge for new negotiations," said the US defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, after a visit to Afghanistan on Sunday.US officials were cautiously optimistic that the exchange could have positive long-term implications. "Maybe this could provide some possible new bridge for new negotiations," said the US defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, after a visit to Afghanistan on Sunday.
Neighbouring Pakistan, once the Taliban's main sponsor and still the base for the movement's leadership, is unlikely to be bothered in principle by the release of Taliban as it has freed dozens of Afghan insurgents in recent months.Neighbouring Pakistan, once the Taliban's main sponsor and still the base for the movement's leadership, is unlikely to be bothered in principle by the release of Taliban as it has freed dozens of Afghan insurgents in recent months.
However, the powerful military intelligence service may be angry that it has apparently been sidelined in a process it is very keen to control. In 2010, Pakistani forces arrested the Taliban's second in command, Mullah Baradar, in an operation widely believed to have been retribution for his efforts to start a peace process.However, the powerful military intelligence service may be angry that it has apparently been sidelined in a process it is very keen to control. In 2010, Pakistani forces arrested the Taliban's second in command, Mullah Baradar, in an operation widely believed to have been retribution for his efforts to start a peace process.
There was no official response from the Kabul government or its military, but on the streets of Kabul many were unhappy to hear that several senior Taliban would be able to rejoin the movement, even if they could not immediately return to the battlefield.There was no official response from the Kabul government or its military, but on the streets of Kabul many were unhappy to hear that several senior Taliban would be able to rejoin the movement, even if they could not immediately return to the battlefield.
"We don't trust the Taliban at all, and I felt very upset when I heard about this release on the radio," said Abdul Ghani, an unemployed 55-year-old from Kabul whose hands were badly injured in the civil war. "The Taliban officials and soldiers are the enemy of our security.""We don't trust the Taliban at all, and I felt very upset when I heard about this release on the radio," said Abdul Ghani, an unemployed 55-year-old from Kabul whose hands were badly injured in the civil war. "The Taliban officials and soldiers are the enemy of our security."
Mokhtar Amiri contributed reportingMokhtar Amiri contributed reporting