Taliban set pre-conditions for Afghan peace talks

[Lone Ranger]

A picture shared by the Afghan Taliban spokesperson on Twitter purportedly shows insurgents carrying flags in Kunduz city.

ISLAMABAD: Afghan Taliban said on Thursday they were “ready to initiate meaningful negotiations” for ending the long-standing war in Afghanistan if their “legitimate demands” were met.

The surprising reaction from the hardliners comes ahead of a possible announcement by US President Barrack Obama to extend the stay of thousands of Nato troops in Afghanistan after 2016.

The New York Times earlier today reported the US will halt its troops‘ draw-down from the insurgency-stricken country, and instead keep thousands of troops on the Afghan soil till the end of President Obama’s term in 2017.

“Obama will announce on Thursday, prolonging the American role in a war that has now stretched on for 14 years,” it said.

“The Islamic Emirate believes a military solution is not a way out of the Afghan issue. All problems can could be resolved through dialogue after the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghan soil,” said a Taliban statement on Thursday.

“We are ready to initiate meaningful negotiations with all concerned sides.”

The group; however, renewed their conditions, which include an end to the “US-led occupation” of Afghanistan.

The Taliban leadership also condemned media reports that the US and its Nato allies had planned to extend their combat mission in Afghanistan beyond 2016.

The group last month took over the northern city of Kunduz for a brief period until it was reclaimed following US air strikes.

“The continuation of oppression, occupation and invasion is not in the interest of anyone,” the Taliban leadership council said.

Afghan Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdulah, who was in New York to attend a UN General Assembly session at the time of the Taliban control of Kunduz, had said “American and Afghan generals are considering to maintain American troops in Afghanistan after 2016.”

“I have asked all of the Nato partners to remain flexible and to consider the possibility of making adjustments into the plan for the presence in Afghanistan. We need to do an assessment,” the US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter told a Nato defence ministers meeting in Brussels on October 8.

Taliban set pre-conditions for Afghan peace talks - The Express Tribune

 

[Zarvan]

A picture shared by the Afghan Taliban spokesperson on Twitter purportedly shows insurgents carrying flags in Kunduz city.

ISLAMABAD: Afghan Taliban said on Thursday they were “ready to initiate meaningful negotiations” for ending the long-standing war in Afghanistan if their “legitimate demands” were met.

The surprising reaction from the hardliners comes ahead of a possible announcement by US President Barrack Obama to extend the stay of thousands of Nato troops in Afghanistan after 2016.

The New York Times earlier today reported the US will halt its troops‘ draw-down from the insurgency-stricken country, and instead keep thousands of troops on the Afghan soil till the end of President Obama’s term in 2017.

“Obama will announce on Thursday, prolonging the American role in a war that has now stretched on for 14 years,” it said.

“The Islamic Emirate believes a military solution is not a way out of the Afghan issue. All problems can could be resolved through dialogue after the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghan soil,” said a Taliban statement on Thursday.

“We are ready to initiate meaningful negotiations with all concerned sides.”

The group; however, renewed their conditions, which include an end to the “US-led occupation” of Afghanistan.

The Taliban leadership also condemned media reports that the US and its Nato allies had planned to extend their combat mission in Afghanistan beyond 2016.

The group last month took over the northern city of Kunduz for a brief period until it was reclaimed following US air strikes.

“The continuation of oppression, occupation and invasion is not in the interest of anyone,” the Taliban leadership council said.

Afghan Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdulah, who was in New York to attend a UN General Assembly session at the time of the Taliban control of Kunduz, had said “American and Afghan generals are considering to maintain American troops in Afghanistan after 2016.”

“I have asked all of the Nato partners to remain flexible and to consider the possibility of making adjustments into the plan for the presence in Afghanistan. We need to do an assessment,” the US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter told a Nato defence ministers meeting in Brussels on October 8.

Taliban set pre-conditions for Afghan peace talks - The Express Tribune

Well Obama insistence on staying in Afghanistan will only make sure that Wars continue. Peace talks are pretty much over now

 

[A-Team]

Well Obama insistence on staying in Afghanistan will only make sure that Wars continue. Peace talks are pretty much over now

My good friend Zarvan again showing his colors for supporting the "Good Taliban " That being said, doors for negotiation are open, their continued killing is proloning the stay of the International Forces, they are the actual cause.

 

[The Vicious Kind]

Its now become more difficult for Pakistan to bring them on to the table. Afghans shouldn't expect a miracle from us. The recent debacle in Kunduz has raised their confidence and they will now play hard to get now. The death of mullah Omar was the worst thing that happened to Afghanistan this year. I am not in anyway justifying his killings , or supporting their claim. Infact, it was this Ignorant Jihadis rigidness and refusal to give up OBL that led us to this mess. I would have been happy to see him dead , but now was not a good time.

Their new chief Mullah Mansoor was secretly running the group for a couple of years now. He was their operational commander. We finally pushed him for talks and he gave it a green light , hence the Muree talks. However, unfortunately some idiot without thinking of the long term implications leaked news of Omars death. This created a Power struggle which resulted in Mullah Mansoor solidifying his claim by launching deadly attacks. Afghan govs mishandling and the fall of Kunduz didn't help either. Now they will talk from a position of strength , even if they come to the table at all. They might opt to wait it out.