British Prime Minister for Talks with Taliban
The press has reported that the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is ready to talk to the Taliban in a major shift in strategy that is likely to cause consternation among hardliners in the White House. Six years after British troops were first deployed to oust the Taliban regime, the Prime Minister believes the time has come to open a dialogue in the hope of moving from military action to consensus-building among the tribal leaders. Since 1 January, more than 6,200 people have been killed in violence related to the insurgency, including 40 British soldiers. In total, 86 British troops have died. The Cabinet yesterday approved a three-pronged plan that Mr Brown will outline for security to be provided by Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) and the Afghan national army, followed by economic and political development in Afghanistan. But the intention to engage Taliban leaders in a constructive dialogue, which Mr Brown will make clear in a parliamentary statement will be by far the most controversial element of the plan. A senior Downing Street source confirmed the move last night and one Brown aide who accompanied the Prime Minister on his recent visit to Kabul, said: "We need to ask who are we fighting? Do we need to fight them? Can we be talking to them?"The shift of strategy will place the onus to deliver on Hamid Karzai, the Afghan President, who will take the lead in opening discussions with Taliban leaders through provincial governors. The dialogue strategy is the latest attempt by Mr Brown to distance himself from the military legacy of the Blair era and the hardline instincts of President George Bush We have said before that blood-letting can not stop in Afgaistan except negotiated solution.This is the experience of Afganistan after the deposition of Zaheer Shah by the communists and later Soviet invasion.Neither the American assisted administration nor the Taliban can hold control of the country.We welcome the move by Brown and we expect him to make genuine efforts.Both parties must give concessions.We particularly urge Taliban not to insist on its interpretation of Islam and politics and realize that there are other views on the issues of Jihad, Islam and politics.
