An Afghanistan 'expert', Michael Semple, has claimed that elements within the taliban are discussing ways of ending the war in Afghanistan.
Color me skeptical.
From National Post
HALIFAX -- A debate is underway among the Taliban's senior leadership about finding ways to end the war in Afghanistan, and the Western coalition should pursue peace talks with moderate leaders of the insurgency, says the man widely considered to have the closest contacts, of any Westerner, with the Taliban.[...]If we go try to negotiate peace with the taliban they'll view it is a sign of weakness and may be tempted to fight on. If on the off chance they accept, it will almost certainly be a temporary peace treaty, ie. a hudna which only last 10 years. The taliban and al Qaeda will use the time to rearms and gain strength in order to attack again.
"The good news is: There are people involved in the insurgency who have their own version of the kinds of debates [on the best future strategy] that we've had in Western countries over the past few months, who are well aware of the costs imposed on Afghanistan by continuing the conflict . . . that want to bring this thing to an end.
"The bad news is that, currently, they've got a weak hand inside the insurgent movement."[...]
Getting the upper hand on the insurgency -- or at least demonstrating renewed, Western military resolve in Afghanistan -- is necessary before being able negotiate peace from a position of strength, they said.
The four panellists also agreed the war in Afghanistan cannot be won without the help and co-operation of Pakistan, whose military establishment founded the Taliban, is wary of Western staying power in Afghanistan, and continues to shelter the Taliban's leaders, along with those of al-Qaida.[...]The taliban were in the cross-hairs at the beginning of the Afghan war. Maybe not the primary target but they were definitely in the cross-hairs.
"In the long term, you have to offer the Taliban accommodation," said Mr. Sethi, who reminded people that al-Qaeda, not the Taliban, were the original, principle targets of the war following 9/11.
Besides, the ties between the taliban and al Qaeda have grown a lot closer since the start of the war. So much so, that we may have to defeat the taliban in order to defeat al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
2 comments:
Nothing would surpise me out of this bunch, kyros.
The whispers have been getting louder. And the number one whisperer is Eikenberry, the Afghanistan diplo that sent the letter to Obama about Karzai and the vote problem. It gave Obama instant cover.
Like I said nothing would surprise me from this bunch and I hate that because I'm not that kind of person.
they're definitely setting it up so that they can talk with the taliban. Even the British are talking along similar lines.
Nothing good will come of this.
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