Talks with Taliban ultimate goal: US

WASHINGTON: Despite the Trump administration’s stern stance that the Taliban would be dealt with and defeated militarily, officials here maintain that the ultimate goal would be to bring the group to the negotiating table.

"The conditions over the last two weeks in Kabul were horrific and not one that would indicate an immediate approach to the negotiating table," Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan said, "but that doesn't change our ultimate goal, which is to get to a negotiated peaceful settlement with the Taliban."

Speaking at a round-table arranged for the media, Sullivan said, "At least some elements - significant elements - of the Taliban will require more convincing of the seriousness of our purpose and the president's purpose in this."

He asserted that conditions do not look hospitable to peace negotiations today in the light of what happened in the last few weeks.

Interestingly, President Trump last week indicated that he would oppose any negotiations.

The deputy secretary has just returned from his trip to Kabul, and held talks with the US army officials and Afghan leadership, including President Ghani and Dr Abdullah.

He said he’d discussed the US policy that combined a whole-of-government approach — diplomatic, political, economic, and military pressure — to bring the Taliban ultimately to the negotiating table.

He did not give any deadline about when to expect such talks. "There's definitely not any link between when negotiations would start and any other developments, political or otherwise," he said, adding that talks could begin when the conditions warrant regardless of the political calendar.

The US policy, he said, was conditions-based. "It's an enduring policy meant to last over time for the United States to show its commitment, and when conditions are right, negotiations will start, and when conditions thereafter, subject to the negotiation and the outcome of the negotiations, are appropriate, the United States would - we're not seeking a permanent US military establishment in Afghanistan - take appropriate steps to draw down our military presence subject to further negotiations with the Afghan government."

Outlining the conditions, the US wants as "ripe", the deputy secretary said, "Security. No terrorist attacks." He insisted that a commitment by the Taliban to engage in constructive discussions will lead to the indication that they were serious about a stable, peaceful Afghanistan.

He also maintained that the timing of negotiations will be determined by the Afghan government and the Taliban.

"It is an Afghan-led, Afghan-sponsored peace process and the United States supports. This isn't a negotiation between the United States and the Taliban on behalf of the people of Afghanistan," he said.

Answering a question about Pakistan's involvement, he said the US expectations were clear through its policy, which was to expel from sanctuaries in Pakistan any terrorists that are undermining security in Afghanistan or elsewhere in the region. "Those discussions are ongoing," he said.