Is this good news? Not really, Najibullah tried this after the Soviets pulled out and it accomplished nothing to stop the killing.


KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) - The Taliban said Monday it was ready for talks with the Afghan government after President Hamid Karzai offered negotiations in a bid to end the rebels' nearly six-year bloody insurgency.

Karzai made the offer on Sunday, with the insurgency spiralling to its highest level this year, saying peace could not be achieved without dialogue.

"For the sake of national interests ... we are fully ready for talks with the government," senior Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP.


LINK


May I suggest that the study of history be done and maybe we would avoid all the same mistakes that have been made before we arrived.

"For the sake of national interests

They have no national interests. They have an agenda and it has nothing to do what is good for the country. They are only interestred in their radical policies.

I think they will talk with the govt, at lower levels and will try to effect change. All to kill time while planning the demise of the Karzai govt.

Just a quick update on the talk thing.


KABUL, Sept 10 (KUNA) -- Taliban militants in Afghanistan on Monday said they were not averse to talks with the Afghan government but they would decide any such proposal in light of the Islamic principles.

Speaking to KUNA over the telephone, Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi said that the Afghan government was helpless to invite the Taliban or other dissident groups for talks because it was being controlled by foreigners.

Regarding Karzai's speech to a ceremony on Sunday and his readiness for talks with Taliban and Hezbi Islami of former premier Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the Taliban spokesman downplayed the statement and said it had only the face value.


LINK

Taliban militants in Afghanistan on Monday said they were not averse to talks with the Afghan government but they would decide any such proposal in light of the Islamic principles

Well, if the talks are dictated by the Taliban principles, I don't see much progress coming from the talks.

look for unilateral ceasefire. Then the real intrigue will begin.

Keep an eye on this an you may see history repeat itself...itself.


KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Afghan government is investigating a Taliban spokesman's statement that the militant group might be willing to hold negotiations with the government, the president's spokesman said Tuesday.

President Hamid Karzai repeated Sunday the government's stance that it is willing to hold talks with the hard-line fundamentalists. The next day, Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said the militants would consider negotiations if a formal offer was made.

"The Afghan government, especially the president himself, has announced several times that the reconciliation doors are open," said Karzai spokesman Humayun Hamidzada. "We heard the Taliban announcement through the media. We are investigating it."


LINK

President Hamid Karzai repeated Sunday the government's stance that it is willing to hold talks with the hard-line fundamentalists.

Sounds like BS to me. Talk is cheap and nobody abides by their commitments outside of the tribal treaties.

I say he will try to use the jirga, the tribal meetings, to launch what appears to be a peace initiative.