Taliban, Afghan govt. engaged in secret talks in Islamabad: report

[Valkyrie]

NSA Ajit Doval is talking about the Kashmir land which has been ceded by Pakistan to China.

India is engaging with both China and Pakistan to settle the dispute and get back the land which belongs to India.

Let me reiterate, none of this land belongs to India, absolutely none of it.

 

[Hindustani78]

Kabul confirms parley with Taliban | Zee News
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 8, 2015 - 16:02
Aimed at contacting anti-government militants and established by former president Hamid Karzai in 2010, the 70-member High Peace Council (HPC) was authorised to contact the Taliban and other insurgents groups to convince them to give up fighting, boost reconciliation process and help government in reconstruction process of the war-ravaged country, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, while welcoming the beginning of the formal talks as the first step towards achieving peace, is hopeful that the process could facilitate the way for achieving lasting and honourable peace in the country," the statement further added.

The Afghan foreign ministry in the statement also thanked Pakistan for facilitating and hosting the first ever direct talks between the delegation of High Peace Council and the Taliban.

Let me reiterate, none of this land belongs to India, absolutely none of it.

Its really strange, on one hand you claim that Kashmir is a dispute but on another hand you claim that land doesnt belong to India.

 

[Hindustani78]

UNSC hails direct talks between Afghan government, Taliban | Zee News
Last Updated: Saturday, July 11, 2015 - 15:33
United Nations: The UN Security Council has welcomed the direct talks in Pakistan between representatives of the Afghan government and Taliban, saying they represent "a step towards peace and reconciliation" in the country.


The members of the Security Council expressed their appreciation for "the constructive roles" played by the government of Pakistan, China, the US, and the international community, said a statement issued to the press here on Friday by the 15-nation Security Council.

The Security Council reiterated that women have a vital role to play in the peace process, as recognised in Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) and related resolutions, and therefore recalled the need for the full, equal and effective participation of women at all its stages, said the statement.

The Council members reaffirmed their commitment to support Afghanistan on its path towards peace, reconciliation, democracy and development, it added.

The first-ever face-to-face talks between a delegation of Afghan government peace body the High Peace Council (HPC) and Taliban representatives in Pakistan has been widely welcomed at home and abroad.

The much-awaited peace talks since the collapse of Taliban regime in late 2001, according to Afghan government, was held in Pakistan`s scenic town of Murree near Islamabad on Tuesday and both sides agreed to hold a second round of the talks after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Xinhua news agency reported.

Both the Afghan government and its people have welcomed the talks as the first step towards achieving lasting peace via peaceful means, reports said.

A four-member delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai represented Afghan government in the talks with Taliban.



IANS

 

[Hindustani78]

Four soldiers, nine militants killed as security post attacked in Pak | Zee News

Peshawar: At least four soldiers and nine militants were killed after insurgents attacked a security post in Pakistan's northwestern restive tribal region near the Afghan border where a massive army operation is underway against the Taliban.

Militants attacked the security outpost in South Waziristan yesterday which led to a clash, army said.

"At least nine terrorists were killed in a cordon and search operation. Four soldiers also embraced shahadat (martyrdom)," it said in a statement.

Army said killing of the soldiers forced the army to retaliate.

The army also launched a search operation in the area.

South Waziristan was cleared in a military operation in 2009 but rebels are still active in its border areas.

After the operation in neighbouring North Waziristan, the militants are hard-pressed from the two sides.

Army has also moved ahead to clear the Shawal valley which overlaps both South and North Waziristan and links these two districts to Afghanistan.

More than 2,800 militants have been killed since the launch of the operation last June.

 

[Hindustani78]

Afghan Taliban leader hails `legitimate` peace talks | Zee News
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 15, 2015 - 11:22

Kabul: Taliban leader Mullah Omar on Wednesday hailed as "legitimate" peace talks aimed at ending Afghanistan`s 13-year war, in his first comments on the nascent dialogue.


"If we look into our religious regulations, we can find that meetings and even peaceful interactions with the enemies is not prohibited," the reclusive figure said in his annual message on the eve of Eid, the festival marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

"Concurrently with armed Jihad, political endeavours and peaceful pathways for achieving these sacred goals is a legitimate Islamic principle," he said in a statement posted on the Taliban`s official website.

Members of the Afghan High Peace Council sat down with Taliban cadres last week in Murree, a tourist town in the hills north of Islamabad, for their first official talks to try to end the militants` bloody fight, now in its 14th year.

They agreed to meet again in the coming weeks, drawing praise from Kabul, Islamabad, Beijing, Washington and the UN.

But while some commanders voiced optimism, many others interviewed by AFP were deeply wary.

The split in responses, with some commanders openly questioning the legitimacy of the Taliban negotiators in Murree, underscored the potentially dangerous faultlines within the movement, particularly between the older leadership and younger.

In the statement, Omar sought to dispel any notion of a split.

"All mujahidin and countrymen should be confident that in this process, I will unwaveringly defend our legal rights and viewpoint everywhere," he said, adding that the purpose of talks was to "bring and end to the occupation" of Afghanistan.

AFP

 

[Hindustani78]

Taliban leader approves Afghan peace talks | Zee News
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 15, 2015 - 22:39

Kabul: Elusive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar on Wednesday described the peace talks with the Afghan government as "legitimate" and announced his outfit`s readiness for talks.

In his congratulatory message ahead of Eid-ul Fitr, Omar said the Taliban`s political office had been authorized to negotiate with Afghans and foreigners, Xinhua reported.

"If we look into our religious regulations and history, we can find that meetings and peaceful interactions with the enemies of Islam is not prohibited but what is unlawful in meetings with enemies is overlooking Islamic principles," Omar said in a statement posted on Taliban website.

"Therefore the objective behind our political endeavours as well as our contacts and interactions with Afghans and countries is to bring an end to the occupation of foreign forces and to establish an independent Islamic system in our country," he added.

This is the first time over the past 14 years that the one-eyed Taliban leader, who escaped the US manhunt in the region, has expressed readiness for peace talks with Afghan government.

The comment came as the much-awaited peace talks since the collapse of Taliban regime in late 2001 were held in Pakistan`s Murree town this month and both sides agreed to hold a second round after Ramadan.

"It is our legitimate right to utilize all legal means and ways to achieve peace, because being an organized set-up, we are responsible before our people and we are an integral part of human society and rely upon one another in the country," Omar said.

Omar has not been seen since the collapse of his regime in late 2001.

Meanwhile, a senior member of the Afghan government-backed peace body the High Peace Council (HPC) on Wednesday cautiously welcomed Omar`s statement and called upon Taliban to agree for ceasefire at its earliest.

"First of all they (Taliban) should make ceasefire and under a ceasefire, the peace talks should be held," Mohammad Ismael Qasimyar told Xinhua.

Qasimyar, an advisor on international relations with the HPC, without commenting on Omar`s statement said that HPC welcomed any step bolstering peace process in the country.

AFP

 

[Hindustani78]

Taliban negotiations only way to end bloodshed, bring peace: Ashraf Ghani | Zee News

Last Updated: Friday, July 17, 2015 - 18:56

Karachi: In his first message to Afghanistan on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, a major Muslim holiday, President Ashraf Ghani has asserted that negotiations with Taliban were the only way to `end bloodshed` and bring peace to the country.

President Ghani, who spoke at the presidential palace in the capital city of Kabul, thanked the militant group`s leader, Mullah Omar, for endorsing the recently concluded peace talks, adding that it was important for the Taliban to want to join the political process, reported the Dawn.

However, even as the president spoke, an explosion hit a mosque compound in northern Balkh province after Eid prayers, which follows the Muslim holy month of Ramzan.

Pakistan hosted the first face-to-face talks between Kabul and Taliban earlier this month. It was supervised by US and Chinese representatives. The meeting is believed to have made progress, with the two sides agreeing to meet again.



PTI


First Published: Friday, July 17, 2015 - 18:56