Afghan peace council chief: Taliban ready to talk

Oct 14, 2010 |

Kabul

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A former Afghan President who heads a new peace council said on Thursday he’s convinced the Taliban are ready to negotiate peace after nine years of war in Afghanistan.

Burhanuddin Rabbani told reporters in Kabul the Taliban have not completely rejected the idea of negotiating a nonmilitary solution to the war. "They have some conditions to start the negotiations process. It gives us hope that they want to talk and negotiate," Rabbani said.

"We are taking our first steps," he said. "I believe there are people among the Taliban that have a message that they want to talk. They are ready". The Taliban have previously denied that high-ranking officials from the group are in contact with senior Afghan officials.

Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, a top adviser to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, said he is getting strong support for the peace process from the international community, but negotiations with the Taliban must be led by Afghans.

On Tuesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said his country would be part of the process. "Look, nothing can happen without us because we are part of the solution. We are not part of the problem," Gilani said.

Stanekzai said he welcomes Pakistan's help in finding a peaceful resolution to the war, but Afghanistan would not go through Pakistan to talk to the Taliban.

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