The Pakistan Update

By Muhammad Jamil

President Hamid Karzai, soon after his arrival in Pakistan, went straight to the Presidency to hold talks with President Zardari. Both leaders have agreed to revive the joint grand jirga process for evolving a common strategy on furthering Kabul’s reintegration and reconciliation plan. Both leaders are of the view that military operations are not the solution, so Pakistan and Afghanistan should cooperate in engaging the Taliban to restore peace in the war-ravaged country. A day earlier, President Karzai had a meeting with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, and it appears that President Karzai has been tasked by the US to bring at least second rankers from the Taliban leadership on board. Pakistan and Afghanistan seem to be on the same page now. Realising that without Pakistan’s transit facility and facilitating logistics there could be a disaster, measures have been taken to address the concerns and sensitivities of Pakistan.

The London Conference was held in January 2010, which was a prelude to plans for an honourable exit of the US and its allies’ troops from Afghanistan. The objective of holding the London Conference on the future of Afghanistan, arguably, was to find ways and means to hold talks with the Taliban with a view to bringing peace in war-ravaged Afghanistan. In the communiqué of the conference, attended by about 70 nations, a renewed commitment was made towards helping Afghanistan so that it emerged as a secure, prosperous and democratic nation. (more…)

Tags: Afghanistan, Asif Zardari, FATA, Featured, Hamid Karzai, London, London Conference, Pakistan, Robert Gates, Taliban leadership, Talks with Taliban

Posted in Afghanistan, Blog | 1,026 Comments »

The Taliban’s leaders will decide soon about joining talks with the Afghan government, a spokesman said on Friday, after President Hamid Karzai invited them to a peace council as part of efforts to end years of fighting.

Karzai on Thursday set out plans for a loya jirga, an assembly of elders and influential Afghans, to initiate peace talks with the Taliban and called on the group’s leaders to take part. The United States and its allies would not participate.

Foreign donors are funding an Afghan plan to reintegrate rank-and-file Taliban fighters using jobs and cash, an initiative the Taliban have described as a “trick.”

Below are some questions and answers about possible talks.

WHY WOULD THE TALIBAN TALK WHEN THEY ARE STRONG?

The insurgency, composed of several factions, is at its strongest since the Taliban’s removal in 2001. But it faces a surge in foreign troops and a concerted, relatively well-funded initiative to tempt foot soldiers with promises of cash and jobs.

Some Western diplomats also say fighters are weary of the battles that has gone on in the country for decades. (more…)

Tags: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Featured, Hamid Karzai, London Conference, Pakistan, Taliban, War on Terror

Posted in Afghanistan, Around, News | 342 Comments »

This post carries an offer for the right wingers. Those who consider themselves good Christians, the ones who talk incessantly about family values and the importance of virginity. The ones who go to Church every Sunday and incorporate Jesus into every nonsensical thought that comes out of their mouths. The wholesome, flag-waving American-born Christians.

For all you believers, Afghanistan has a proposition for you. The Taliban leaders had a grand Jirga and suggested that each riteous Christian should be offered a sum of money, a couple of grand, to change their hearts.

Now, we know not all good Christians are sell outs…but look when you take gas prices, utility bills, unemployment, health, inflation, and the kids’ education into account, is it that hard to imagine that more than a few people would consider the Taliban’s offer?

Good Christians might secretly visit Church even after agreeing to the deal. But what’s going to happen once the money is gone? Good Christians will return to their faith, or will scheme to keep the money coming their way.

Does this sound ridiculous enough?

Well, that’s what Afghanistan’s puppet President Hamid Karzai proposed at the London Conference. The United States backed the idea, and has decided to raise one billion dollars to buy off Taliban or Taliban sympathizers. The specific amount of money each member of the Taliban would receive has not yet been worked out, but given the high corruption level in Afghanistan, my shot in the dark is that they won’t get enough money to keep their loyalties to one party.

Over the next 5 years, as proposed by the Afghan government, this money would be used to establish a trust to finance the reintegration program that would persuade the militants to lay down their weapons.

The U.N. Security Counsel  also removed the names of five Taliban leaders from the “black list” of 144 dangerous terrorists figuring in the sanctions regime under Resolution 1267 dating back to the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington. This shows that we are back to square one. As the UN envoy to Afghanistan put it, “If you want results, then you have to talk to the relevant person in authority.”

Paying the bribe to purchase a change of heart is a bogus idea. But some argue that Taliban supporters have failed to realize why international forces are in their country. Interestingly, this idea is supported by the argument that it can’t be worse than the previous efforts.

Well, then the previous efforts were wrong, as this one. Bottom line is, you can not correct a historical blunder with such idiotic tactics. This is what the West never understood and still refuses to.

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Picture Credit: AP

Tags: 9/11, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Christianity, Current Affairs, Featured, Hamid Karzai, Jihadists, London Conference, National Security, Religion, Richard Halbrooke, Taliban, Terrorism, United Nations, UNSC

Posted in Blog | 93 Comments »

By Donna Miles

NATO’s top military commander expressed confidence that the critical pieces are being put into place to make 2010 a turning point for Afghanistan’s future.

Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, who participated in the Jan. 28 International Conference on Afghanistan in London as part of the NATO delegation, said he’s seeing the international community coming together in an unprecedented way to ensure the new strategy succeeds.

“For the first time, there is universal international focus on taking Afghanistan to the next step,” he said, noting representation by 60 nations and 19 other international organizations at the conference and additional commitments of troops, trainers and political, economic and development aid.

These components are critical to the comprehensive approach needed for Afghanistan’s long-term success, he said during a joint Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service interview. (more…)

Tags: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Ban Ki Moon, Hamid Karzai, Hillary Clinton, London Conference, NATO, Pakistan Army, Taliban, UN, War on Terror

Posted in Afghanistan, Around | 504 Comments »