In comments to media outlets, former prime minister of Taliban-run Afghanistan Ahmad Ahmadzai insisted that the Taliban agreed to take part in direct peace talks with the US two years ago, requiring only that the US set a date for a full pullout from Afghanistan.
Indeed, Ahmadzai claims, the Taliban didn’t even require a certain date of their own choosing, saying it was entirely up to the US to set a date and that the date simply needed to be set publicly. They reportedly reiterated this offer a few days ago.
They also, according to Ahmadzai, agreed to a US demand that they sever all ties with al-Qaeda, insisting that such a move would not be an issue to such talks. It does not appear that they agreed to US demands to disarm and submit to the Karzai government, however.
And of course the US has no intention of setting a date for ending the war in Afghanistan, with Pentagon officials openly dismissing the “end of 2014” deadline set by NATO as unrealistic and President Karzai confirming talks for “permanent” US bases. That is a large part of why, ten years in, the war is still going on, with three more NATO soldiers slain today.
The five "NATO" soldiers reported killed on Sunday were all US soldiers bringing the total US dead in Afghanistan in July , 2011, to thirty six. That follows the forty six reported killed in June. If the three more "NATO" soldiers reported killed today turns out to be US soldiers, (which is likely because most combat forces in Afghanistan are US soldiers), then the total for August through Aug. 3 is already five US dead as the DOD reported a US soldier killed in Helmand on Monday, Aug. 1and reported another today in Paktia from an IED on Aug. 2.
Maybe the US should cut a deal with the Taliban while they still can. The Taliban are patient to a fault, but sooner or later even that's going to wear thin and I pity the US troops that will be killed for their government's arrogance.
Then again, just look at the oil and mineral deals that are at stake in the Middle East. Moms and Dads, do you want your sons and daughters dying so you can have cheap gas? Are you satisfied that little Billy and Suzy died defending you, or did they die for some politicians agenda- was that an American politician's agenda, or an Israeli politician's agenda?
Don't get me wrong- as a 12-year US veteran myself, I desperately want everything to resolve and get our boys and girls home and out of this insanity. I don't want any more US- or Afghan- men and women killed, period.
The Taliban aren't stupid, and they know they will eventually win. It might not happen this year, or next year, but all they have to do is be the last ones standing when it's all over. So far, my money is on them.
So after 10 years, after slaughtering thousands of innocent civilians and using a few thousand American soldiers as canon fodder, and wasting billions of dollars of tax payer money, the US government is finally willing to negotiate with the Taliban, the same people with whom it refused to negotiate 10 years ago.
america will never learn from wars. Now american war with shatterd economy is worst and to survive they have to pull out.
Wars are wars and not a joke the question had america achieve anything except killing millions of muslims and created hatred against Muslims false allegations and now want to pull out.
Neo-cones will be really enjoy the american destruction just to support Israelis by illegal wars.
america had to learn from Russians whom they destroyed and created a culture of Jihadis and now they kill them. No one will believe americans as lieers and decievers.,
Honestly, i find it really hard to believe any of this.
Just how many times in the past has the Taliban repeatedly said there haven't been any direct or indirect talks between the Taliban and western-forces/Karzia gov. Even when Saudi Arabia was asked to mediate the "Peace Talks" at the request of Karzia & America, it was of no use. The so-called "Taliban delegates" turned out to be impostures & those high-profile "Peace Talks", which got mass media coverage, was a joke.
But the joke was on the western-forces as the Taliban realized how desperate the occupying-enemy is getting in hopes of ending the conflict. After all, why would the Taliban come to the negotiation table when they have the upper-hand?
As for 'Taliban will sever all ties with al-Qaida if western-forces leave '… are you kidding me? These are people who sacrifice their own families to protect their brothers in Islam. For the Taliban to forsake al-Qaida is to go against core principles of their Islamic faith. Those who understand the mentality of the Taliban know, betrayal is & has never been in their code of conduct.
One crucial point, though, regarding the Taliban's relationship with Al-Qaeda: the Taliban seeks influence within state borders, while AQ takes their fight internationally. The AQ international agenda is NOT the agenda of the local Taliban and, in fact, hurts, the Taliban by drawing fire onto the larger Taliban.
This isn't to say there aren't those with loyalties to both outfits, but while both groups agendas are aimed squarely at removing western influence from the Middle East, the overall game plan of each is vastly different.
Would there be a complete separation of the Taliban and AQ? Probably not 100%, but as I have said before, the Taliban aren't stupid, and they know if they make this deal and break it there will be a lot of blood spilled needlessly, on both sides. In the end, AQ needs the Taliban, at least in Afghanistan, but the Taliban definitely doesn't need AQ.