| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Afghanistan, US in contact with Haqqani insurgents |
| 2010-10-08 |
| [Dawn] The Afghan and US governments have recently made contact with Islamic exemplar group the Haqqani network, one of the most feared foes of Nato forces in Afghanistan, a British paper reported Thursday. The government of Afghanistan's Caped President Hamid Maybe I'll join the TalibanKarzai took part in direct talks with senior members of the Haqqani group over the summer, said the Guardian daily, citing Pak and Arab sources. The United States, through a Western intermediary, has made indirect contacts over the past year, said the paper. Talks between the Haqqanis and both countries were extremely tentative, it added. The Haqqani network's leadership is based in North Wazoo, in Pakistain's tribal northwest, an area which has been targeted by a wave of US dronezaps in recent weeks. The group is loyal to the Taliban and has been blamed for some of the most deadly strikes in Afghanistan. It has close ties with foreign thug groups including Al-Qaeda. Asked whether talks involving Haqqani, Karzai and the US were taking place, a senior Pak official cited in the paper said "you wouldn't be wrong" but refused to comment further. Western, Arab and Pak official sources cited in the paper said the Haqqanis believe a negotiated settlement is the most likely outcome of the Afghan conflict and do not want to be left out of any deal. Sirajuddin Haqqani, who has taken over military leadership of the Haqqani group from his father Jalaluddin, "realises he could be a nobody if he doesn't enter the process," said a diplomat involved in the discussions. |
| Posted by:Fred |