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Is it time to talk to Taliban chiefs?

by Babel-Fish | July 26, 2009 at 07:28 pm

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Talking to moderate Taliban leaders may be the only way to end the fighting in Afghanistan, ministers suggested last night.
International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander believes beating the insurgents by force is only part of the solution.

The long-term answer would involve the Afghan government engaging with elements of the insurgency.

Ministers hope the Taliban can be divided into a hardcore of Al Qaeda sympathisers and others who might be brought into the political process.

The young minister with a very young face that seemingly has just finished university not so long ago. Offers a solution to the Afghanistan conflict but the solution has a big flaw, where does one find a moderate Taliban leader?

Oh the less fundlamental one yes well lets get a list of leaders names and use a pin with our eyes closed, lol

Oh I see Obama also thinks there maybe moderates amongst the Taliban.

Missguided as such fundlamentalism has to be run by strong non moderate leaders.

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albertacowpoke

at 19:47 on July 26th, 2009

This is not a totally weird idea. Even Karzai has made noises in that direction. The Taliban are a fact of life and they do want some power sharing.

The problem as you stated is who would you talk to, what concession would have to be made. No matter how you turn it it's a difficult problem. The Taliban won't go away.

Karzai, or whoever is President in Afghanistan will have to extend his reach beyond Kabul.

That mean he needs well trained security forces that are loyal to his government.

Babel-Fish

at 21:16 on July 26th, 2009

You field some good points of which I totally agree with, thanks

MilanSturgis

at 09:38 on July 27th, 2009

There has always been the opinion at ISAF that you have Taliban (capital T) and taliban (small t)...Mullah Omar and other entrenched leaders would never agree to a demobilization/demilitarization process but many of the tribal leaders would who consider themselves taliban but not part of the insurgency.