Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The U.S. Will Drop It's Demand That The Taliban Renounce Al Qaeda

The Taliban has repeatedly refused to meet Afghan peace envoys Photo: REUTERS

US Drops Demand Taliban Renounce al-Qaeda To Allow Talks To Progress -- The Telegraph

America will engage in its first formal direct talks with the Taliban on Thursday, after dropping its long-standing demand that the movement renounce ties with al-Qaeda in order for them to progress.

The US will engage in its first formal direct talks with the Taliban on Thursday, according to officials, in a milestone on the road to peace after more than a decade of war.

The first meeting will take place in Doha, the Qatari capital, after the Taliban opened their first official overseas office and Washington dropped its long-standing demand that the movement renounce ties with al-Qaeda as a precondition for the talks.

“The US will have its first formal meeting with the Taliban, and indeed first meeting with the Taliban for several years, in a couple of days in Doha,” a senior official with Obama administration said.

Afghan peace negotiators will also travel to Qatar for talks, according to President Hamid Karzai, speaking as Nato officially transferred authority to Afghan national forces on the ground in Afghanistan.

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My Comment: I have zero confidence in these "peace talks". Max Boot's explanation on why we should not have high hopes for these talks is spot on.

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