[Peace-discuss] UN: Time for Direct Talks with Afghan Taliban Leaders

[Robert Naiman]

UN: Time for Direct Talks with Afghan Taliban Leaders
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/un-time-for-direct-talks_b_437059.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/1/26/124353/370

The top United Nations official for Afghanistan has called for direct
talks with senior Taliban leaders. Is anyone in Washington listening?

The New York Times reported Sunday that Kai Eide, the United Nations
special representative for Afghanistan, "called on Afghan officials to
seek the removal of at least some senior Taliban leaders from the
United Nations' list of terrorists, as a first step toward opening
direct negotiations with the insurgent group."

Eide also called on the U.S. to speed its review of the roughly 750
detainees in its military prisons in Afghanistan - another principal
grievance of Taliban leaders.

Eide said he hoped that the two steps would open the way for
face-to-face talks between Afghan officials and Taliban leaders.

"If you want relevant results, then you have to talk to the relevant
person in authority," Mr. Eide said. "I think the time has come to do
it."
[...]

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Robert Naiman
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org

Change.org: End the war in Afghanistan
Timeline for Withdrawal and Political Negotiations
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/end_the_war_in_afghanistan_establish_a_timeline_for_withdrawal_and_begin_political_negotiations

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