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Nov 17th, 2008


Karzai Would Offer Taliban Head Security At Talks

An Afghan police officer inspects the wreckage of a car used by a bomber after a suicide attack on a U.S. convoy in Heart, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008. A suicide car bomber struck a U.S. convoy, wounding two troops and damaging two of their vehicles, said Col. Greg Julian, the spokesman for the U.S. military in Afghanistan. (Photo credit: AP)


November 16, 2008

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan President Hamid Karzai offered Sunday to provide security for the Taliban’s reclusive leader if he agrees to enter peace talks, and said the U.S. and other Western nations could leave the country or oust him if they disagree.

Karzai’s comments come as international political and military leaders are increasingly mulling whether negotiating with the Taliban is necessary as the insurgency gains sway in large areas of Afghanistan. Karzai has long supported drawing the Islamist militia into the political mainstream on the condition that they accept the country’s constitution.

“If I hear from (Mullah Omar) that he is willing to come to Afghanistan or to negotiate for peace and for the well-being of the Afghans so that our children are not killed anymore, I as a president of Afghanistan will go to any length to provide protection,” Karzai told a news conference in Kabul. “If I say I want protection for Mullah Omar, the international community has two choices, remove me or leave if they disagree,” he said. “But we are not in that stage yet.”

Omar, the one-eyed leader of the Afghan Taliban, headed the government that hosted al-Qaida and was toppled by the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. Since then, he has been in hiding but is believed to be running the insurgency. …

Seven years after the invasion, violence has reached record levels, with insurgent attacks up by 30 percent compared with 2007. The Taliban are present in large parts of Afghanistan’s south and east and are increasingly encroaching on Kabul, the capital.

In September, Taliban members met with Afghan and Pakistani officials during a dinner hosted by Saudi Arabia’s king, but there were no concrete results from the meeting. Omar has not directly responded to these calls, but spokesmen associated with the Taliban have previously said their participation in any talks depends on the withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign troops from the country. …

Full story

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UPDATE

Taliban Spurn Afghan President’s Offer for Talks


November 16, 2008

KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban militants rejected an offer of peace talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, saying Monday there would be no negotiations until foreign troops leave Afghanistan.

Karzai offered Sunday to provide security for reclusive Taliban leader Mullah Omar if he enters negotiations and said the United States and other Western nations could leave Afghanistan or oust him if they disagree.

But Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said there could be no talks while foreign troops are in the country.

“The Taliban’s (leadership) decided they will not take part in any peace talks with Karzai or Karzai’s administration until such a day when foreign forces leave Afghanistan,” Mujahid told the Associated Press.

“The Taliban will pursue jihad against foreign forces and (Karzai’s) government,” he said, while speaking from an undisclosed location.

Karzai has dismissed the demand for foreign troops to leave, saying they are needed to keep Afghanistan safe. …

U.S. political and military leaders are also considering negotiating with some elements of the Taliban as the insurgency gains sway in large areas of Afghanistan, especially its south and east. Afghanistan is going through its worst violence since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion ousted the Taliban government in 2001. …

Full story

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IRAQ UPDATE

Security Developments in Iraq

Following are security developments in Iraq on Nov. 16, 2008, as reported by Reuters.

JALAWLA – A suicide car bomber killed 15 people, including 7 policemen, and wounded 20 in Jalawla, 70 miles northeast of Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD – A roadside bomb killed three people including two U.S.-backed neighborhood patrol members and wounded seven, including five patrolmen, in northern Baghdad’s Shaab district, police said.

BAGHDAD – A roadside bomb wounded two people in Sinak district, central Baghdad, police said.





4 Responses to “Taliban Offered Safe Conduct”
  1. Immelman for Congress » Blog Archive » Iraq-Afghanistan Casualties Says:

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  2. Immelman for Congress » Blog Archive » Political Solution to Afghan War Says:

    […] Taliban Offered Safe Conduct (Nov. 17, 2008) […]

  3. Immelman for Congress » Blog Archive » Afghan War Set to Drag On Says:

    […] Taliban Offered Safe Conduct […]

  4. Immelman for Congress » Blog Archive » Taliban Arrest Angers Karzai Says:

    […] Taliban Offered Safe Conduct (Nov. 17, 2008) […]

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