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| US, UK agree on settlement with Taliban: British HC |
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Saturday, October 11, 2008
By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
ISLAMABAD: The United States is on board with Great Britain in seeking a negotiated settlement with the Taliban in Afghanistan as both the countries are following a multi-pronged policy for bringing sustainable peace to Afghanistan.
This was stated by the British high commissioner in Islamabad while talking to The News at the Saudi National Day reception hosted by its Ambassador Ali Saeed Awadh Asseri on Friday evening.
Robert Edward Brinkley said that Britain’s commander in Afghanistan Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith’s views that the “war against the Taliban cannot be won” were not new. He has been saying about it all along but this must be seen in a bigger perspective. The commanders belonging to other countries have also been advocating similar ideas in their own way.
The high commissioner said that there were good Taliban and bad Taliban present in Afghanistan. “We are prepared to talk to good Taliban, who renounce violence and lay down their arms.”
To a question, he said the Taliban who would not give up arms, they would have to fight them. In that case, the fight would continue, he said. The high commissioner said that military method was no solution to a situation like Afghanistan and it had to be addressed politically too while, on the other end, socio-economic development must be brought about so that the confidence of the people might improve and atmosphere might become conducive for a peaceful settlement.
Some commanders, including Nato’s, are also talking in the term of having peace with Taliban and Afghan President Hamid Karzai has also been giving clear signals to Taliban for a negotiated settlement but Taliban, who are asking for immediate withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan unconditionally, are not willing to oblige him.
Robert Brinkley was of the opinion that the negotiations were ultimate solution to the ongoing war in Afghanistan. “It will be in the interest of Afghanistan and Taliban both,” he added. The high commissioner parried a question about the briefings in Pakistan’s parliament on the ongoing operation against the terror. “It is the sovereign right of parliament in every democracy to make or change the policies about the country.”
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Three killed as Sh Rashid escapes attempt on life
By Shakeel Anjum
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Malik orders NUML closure as protest enters 5ht day
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Malik insists no Blackwater in Pakistan
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Govt urged to take up water issue with India
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Avalanche kills 17 Indian soldiers in held Kashmir
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Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
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Plea to freeze foreign accounts
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Attack on Sh Rashid
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Indian forces to halt Kashmir rally outside UN office
HELD SRINAGAR: The held Kashmir authorities deployed thousands of police and troops on Monday to prevent a protest outside the UN office here over the recent killing of two teenage boys by Indian security force more |
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briefs...
20 die in Afghan floods, avalanches
KANDAHAR: Twenty people have died in floods and avalanches triggered by some of the heaviest rain and snow in Afghanistan for 50 years, an official said on Monday. At more |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
