Sunday, March 10, 2013

Afghan Taliban, U.S. revive reconciliation talks in Qatar - Karzai

By Mirwais Harooni

KABUL (Reuters) - The Afghan Taliban and the United States have been holding talks in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Sunday, but the militant group and Washington denied they had resumed dialogue.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai speaks during the opening ceremony of the third year of the Afghanistan parliament in Kabul March 6, 2013. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

The Taliban suspended the talks one year ago, blaming "shaky, erratic and vague" U.S. statements.

"Senior leaders of the Taliban and the Americans are engaged in talks in the Gulf state on a daily basis," Karzai told a gathering to mark International Women's Day.

The U.S. government has said it remained committed to political reconciliation involving talks with the Taliban but progress would require agreement between the Afghan government and the insurgents.

"This is simply incorrect," said a U.S. official, who declined to be identified, when asked about Karzai's remarks. "We continue to support an Afghan-led process of political reconciliation."

The Taliban spokesman in Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, also denied that negotiations with the United States had resumed and said no progress had been made since they were suspended.

"The Taliban strongly rejects Karzai's comments," he said.

The Kabul government has been pushing hard to get the Taliban to the negotiating table before most U.S.-led NATO combat troops withdraw by the end of 2014.

Afghan officials have not held direct talks with the militants, who were toppled in 2001 and have proven resilient after more than a decade of war with Western forces.

U.S. diplomats have been seeking to broaden exploratory talks with the Taliban that began clandestinely in Germany in late 2010 after the Taliban offered to open a representative office in Qatar.

Regional power Pakistan indicated a few months ago that it would support the peace process by releasing Afghan Taliban detainees who may help promote the peace process.

But there have been no tangible signs the move advanced reconciliation.

COLLUSION ACCUSATION

A day after two suicide bombings killed 17 people, Karzai also accused the United States and the Taliban of colluding to convince Afghans that foreign forces were still needed to maintain peace in the country beyond next year.

The Afghan president has a history of making inflammatory remarks, particularly railing against the United States with which he has a tense relationship.

The issue of U.S. troop levels after next year's drawdown, when Washington will halve its 66,000 troop level, will be one of the main subjects on the agenda at talks between U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Karzai.

Hagel, who arrived on Friday for his first trip abroad as defense secretary, is due to meet Karzai during his stay.

Hagel's visit also coincides with the passing of a deadline imposed by Karzai for U.S. special forces to leave the province of Wardak, after Karzai accused them of overseeing torture and killings in the area.

U.S. forces have denied involvement in any abuses and it was not clear if they were leaving Wardak by the deadline.

(Additional reporting by Hamid Shalizi; Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Robert Birsel)

News

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Afghan Taliban, U.S. revive reconciliation talks in Qatar - Karzai

By Mirwais Harooni