News
Thursday, March 03, 2011
UK parliamentary committee urges US-Taliban talks
LONDON: The US must hold direct talks with the Taliban if it is to have any hope of ending the Afghan war, an influential British parliamentary committee said on Wednesday.
The Foreign Affairs Committee said the military campaign was not working and urged the British government to use its influence in Washington to convince it to engage fully in direct talks with Taliban leaders.
“An Afghan-led, but US driven, process of political reconciliation is the best remaining hope that the UK and others have of achieving an honourable exit from Afghanistan,” the report, based on interviews with experts and officials, said.
Britain and the United States have long stressed the need for a political settlement in Afghanistan. But officials have also said any talks must be Afghan-led, and insisted military pressure is helping bring insurgents to the negotiating table.
The report, however, argued the Afghan government led by President Karzai did not have the clout to negotiate a settlement without the direct involvement of Washington.
“All of those from whom we took evidence were convinced that the US’s direct endorsement of, and participation in, talks was essential if a peace settlement is to be brokered...”
It said that while the military campaign might be achieving tactical successes, the overall security situation remained precarious. Current tactics might even reduce chances of a settlement by raising mistrust and radicalising the insurgency.
“Given that the pre-requisites for a successful military campaign are currently lacking, we conclude that the US should not delay its significant involvement in talks with the Taliban leadership...” it said. The report echoed comments made by Pakistan and some regional analysts that the Taliban could be convinced to break with al Qaeda in a political settlement. reuters
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk