ianstone
09-05-2010, 04:14 PM
http://media.washtimes.com/media/image/2010/09/05/Afghanistan_Lea-3_s640x418.jpg?349d669f1fb920eb523923d471d7c482440 3ba4fU.S. Army (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/united-states-army/) soldiers secure a road at the scene of a suicide attack in Kandahar, Afghanistan (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/afghanistan/), on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010. At least three people were killed and 11 wounded in the car-bomb attack on a U.S. Army (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/united-states-army/) convoy, according to local hospitals. NATO (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/north-atlantic-treaty-organization-nato/) said there were no injuries to coalition forces or damage to their vehicles. (AP Photo/Allauddin Khan) By Christopher Bodeen
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(http://www.washingtontimes.com/polls/2010/sep/do-you-think-nations-current-economic-woes-will-hu/results/)
Mr. Karzai (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/hamid-karzai/) said Saturday he would soon name the members of the High Peace Council, whose formation was approved in June at a national peace conference in Kabul. A statement released by his office said the move marks a "significant step toward peace talks."
The statement said members will include former Taliban (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/taliban-movement/), jihadi leaders, leading figures in Afghan society and women, but gave no other details. They will be prepared to negotiate with insurgents who renounce violence, honor the Afghan Constitution and sever ties with terrorist networks.
The Taliban (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/taliban-movement/) so far have rejected peace talks while foreign troops remain in the country. Talks held in Kabul and the Maldives with an insurgent group led by ex-Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar produced no breakthrough.
Though some observers have expressed concern about cutting any sort of deal with insurgents, foreign governments working to stabilize the Afghan government and economy have welcomed the move, especially given U.S. plans to begin withdrawing some of its forces next July.
"We warmly welcome today's announcement," the British Foreign Office said of Mr. Karzai (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/hamid-karzai/)'s move. "We will not bring about a more secure Afghanistan (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/afghanistan/) by military means alone . . . we have always said that a political process is needed to bring the conflict in Afghanistan (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/afghanistan/) to an end."
MR. Karzai (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/hamid-karzai/)'s announcement was given added poignancy by comments from the outgoing deputy commander of NATO (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/north-atlantic-treaty-organization-nato/) forces in the country that commanders promised too much when they predicted quick success taking the key Taliban (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/taliban-movement/)-held town of Marjah last winter.
While British Lt. Gen. Nick Parker now sees signs of a turnaround in the turbulent area, he said the military will be more restrained in forecasting success in the future.
Associated Press writers Kimberly Dozier in Kabul and Mirwais Khan in Kandahar contributed to this report.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/5/nato-service-member-killed-afghan-fighting/?page=2#license-422894)
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(http://www.washingtontimes.com/polls/2010/sep/do-you-think-nations-current-economic-woes-will-hu/results/)
Mr. Karzai (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/hamid-karzai/) said Saturday he would soon name the members of the High Peace Council, whose formation was approved in June at a national peace conference in Kabul. A statement released by his office said the move marks a "significant step toward peace talks."
The statement said members will include former Taliban (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/taliban-movement/), jihadi leaders, leading figures in Afghan society and women, but gave no other details. They will be prepared to negotiate with insurgents who renounce violence, honor the Afghan Constitution and sever ties with terrorist networks.
The Taliban (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/taliban-movement/) so far have rejected peace talks while foreign troops remain in the country. Talks held in Kabul and the Maldives with an insurgent group led by ex-Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar produced no breakthrough.
Though some observers have expressed concern about cutting any sort of deal with insurgents, foreign governments working to stabilize the Afghan government and economy have welcomed the move, especially given U.S. plans to begin withdrawing some of its forces next July.
"We warmly welcome today's announcement," the British Foreign Office said of Mr. Karzai (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/hamid-karzai/)'s move. "We will not bring about a more secure Afghanistan (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/afghanistan/) by military means alone . . . we have always said that a political process is needed to bring the conflict in Afghanistan (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/afghanistan/) to an end."
MR. Karzai (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/hamid-karzai/)'s announcement was given added poignancy by comments from the outgoing deputy commander of NATO (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/north-atlantic-treaty-organization-nato/) forces in the country that commanders promised too much when they predicted quick success taking the key Taliban (http://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/taliban-movement/)-held town of Marjah last winter.
While British Lt. Gen. Nick Parker now sees signs of a turnaround in the turbulent area, he said the military will be more restrained in forecasting success in the future.
Associated Press writers Kimberly Dozier in Kabul and Mirwais Khan in Kandahar contributed to this report.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/5/nato-service-member-killed-afghan-fighting/?page=2#license-422894)