Saudi Arabia in negotiations with Taliban

[crisscross]

So it's ok to talk with the Taliban who harbored the people who attacked the US but somehow talking to Iran is "appeasement"

Sources: Taliban split with al Qaeda, seek peace
* Story Highlights
* King Abdullah hosted talks in city of Mecca at end of September, source says
* Saudi Arabia has generally dealt with Afghanistan through Pakistan
* Talks are the first aimed at bringing a negotiated settlement to the Afghan conflict
* All parties agreed only solution to Afghan conflict is dialogue, not fighting
By Nic Robertson CNN Senior International Correspondent LONDON, England (CNN) -- Taliban leaders are holding Saudi-brokered talks with the Afghan government to end the country's bloody conflict -- and are severing their ties with al Qaeda, sources close to the historic discussions have told CNN. The militia, which has been intensifying its attacks on the U.S.-led coalition that toppled it from power in 2001 for harboring Osama bin Laden's terrorist network, has been involved in four days of talks hosted by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, says the source. The talks -- the first of their kind aimed at resolving the lengthy conflict in Afghanistan -- mark a significant move by the Saudi leadership to take a direct role in Afghanistan, hosting delegates who have until recently been their enemies. They also mark a sidestepping of key "war on terror" ally Pakistan, frequently accused of not doing enough to tackle militants sheltering on its territory, which has previously been a conduit for talks between the Saudis and Afghanistan. According to the source, fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar -- high on the U.S. military's most-wanted list -- was not present, but his representatives were keen to stress the reclusive cleric is no longer allied to al Qaeda. Details of the Taliban leader's split with al Qaeda have never been made public before, but the new claims confirm what another source with an intimate knowledge of the militia and Mullah Omar has told CNN in the past. The current round of talks, said to have been taken two years of intense behind-the-scenes negotiations to come to fruition, is anticipated to be the first step in a long process to secure a negotiated end to the conflict. But U.S.- and Europe-friendly Saudi Arabia's involvement has been propelled by a mounting death toll among coalition troops amid a worsening violence that has also claimed many civilian casualties. A Saudi source familiar with the talks confirmed that they happened and said the Saudis take seriously their role in facilitating discussions between parties to the conflict. A second round of talks is scheduled to take place in two months, the Saudi source said. The Afghan government believes the Taliban cannot be defeated militarily, and the Taliban believe that they can't win a war against the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan, the Saudi source said. The involvement of the Saudis is also seen as an expression of fear that Iran could take advantage of U.S. failings in Afghanistan, as it is seen to be doing in Iraq. Several Afghan sources familiar with Iranian activities in Afghanistan have said Iranian officials and diplomats who are investing in business and building education facilities are lobbying politicians in Kabul. Learn more about King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia » The Afghan sources wish to remain anonymous due to their political roles. Coalition commanders regularly accuse Iran of arming the Taliban, and Western diplomats privately suggest that Iran is working against U.S. interests in Afghanistan, making it harder to bring peace. Saudi sources say perceived Iranian expansionism is one of Saudi Arabia's biggest concerns. VideoWatch CNN's Nic Robertson report on the meeting » The talks in Mecca took place between September 24 and 27 and involved 11 Taliban delegates, two Afghan government officials, a representative of former mujahadeen commander and U.S. foe Gulbadin Hekmatyar, and three others. King Abdullah broke fast during the Eid al-Fitr holiday with the 17-member Afghan delegation -- an act intended to show his commitment to ending the conflict. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. Learn more about Ramadan » Saudi Arabia was one of only three countries that recognized the Taliban leadership during its rule over Afghanistan in the 1990s, but that relationship was severed over Mullah Omar's refusal to hand over bin Laden. During the talks, described as an ice breaker, all parties agreed that the only solution to Afghanistan's conflict is through dialogue, not fighting. Further talks are expected in Saudi Arabia involving this core group and others.

Saudi Arabia talks with Al Qaeda

 

[Elias824]

Wow I got to hand it to Saudi Arabia for taking some initiative and trying to improve their region.

 

[crisscross]

I for one am extremely sceptical on any peace talks with the Taliban.

 

[gevorg]

Finally!

Since Islam originated in Mecca, Saudis bear some responsibility on extremists of their religion.

 

[Lemon law]

Largely all comments on this thread are total bullshit. Krazia has been pressing for this type of meeting for two years now, and Karzia early on recognized the Saudi Royal family were the go to guys.

By all other accounts I have seen, the talks were a total failure, simply because the Taliban refuses to even negotiate until US and Nato forces leave Afghan soil. But the new thing stressed by the OP is somewhat a promise by the Taliban to sever its ties to Al-Quida. But the Taliban and Al-Quida have always been two separate movements with two totally different end goals. And why the US and Nato have not before tried to pursue and exploit such a divide and conquer divorce eludes me, but by in large our dumb ass generals try to treat both interchangeably with a shoot on sight policy. Its also all right under US rules to kill up to 30 Afghan innocent civilians to get one Al-Quida or Taliban fighter as a recent 60 minutes feature pointed out.

But in this crazy war in Afghanistan, a negotiated settlement may prove promising, after all it took two years to just start a dialog, and as a lame duck GWB is near his last legs, the US and Nato seem to be trying out all kind of new and barely coordinated throw in the kitchen sink strategies, as the battleground expands to include the tribal regions of Pakistan. That and the use of hastily organized lashkars may put enough pressure on the Taliban to get them to the negotiation table without preconditions.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Gosh ... some great news.

One harsh, tyrannical and oppressive religious culture .... negotiating with another harsh, tyrannical and oppressive religious culture.

At least they have a lot to agree about.

 

[Strk]

Why wouldn't they? Saudi Arabia funded them in the first place.

 

[Lemon law]

Not too likely on the Saudi royal family funds Ossama Bin Laden front. Ossama used to be a Saudi national hero for helping expel the Russians from Afghanistan. But Ossama quite acrimoniously broke with the Saudi royal family when they based US troops in Saudi Arabia during Gulf war one. And Ossama got exiled from Saudi Arabia as a result. And Ossama would just love to see the house of Saud overthrown.

 

[beyoku]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
Largely all comments on this thread are total bullshit. Krazia has been pressing for this type of meeting for two years now, and Karzia early on recognized the Saudi Royal family were the go to guys.

By all other accounts I have seen, the talks were a total failure, simply because the Taliban refuses to even negotiate until US and Nato forces leave Afghan soil. But the new thing stressed by the OP is somewhat a promise by the Taliban to sever its ties to Al-Quida. But the Taliban and Al-Quida have always been two separate movements with two totally different end goals. And why the US and Nato have not before tried to pursue and exploit such a divide and conquer divorce eludes me, but by in large our dumb ass generals try to treat both interchangeably with a shoot on sight policy. Its also all right under US rules to kill up to 30 Afghan innocent civilians to get one Al-Quida or Taliban fighter as a recent 60 minutes feature pointed out.

But in this crazy war in Afghanistan, a negotiated settlement may prove promising, after all it took two years to just start a dialog, and as a lame duck GWB is near his last legs, the US and Nato seem to be trying out all kind of new and barely coordinated throw in the kitchen sink strategies, as the battleground expands to include the tribal regions of Pakistan. That and the use of hastily organized lashkars may put enough pressure on the Taliban to get them to the negotiation table without preconditions.

QFT - Taliban and alquida have always been to totally separate movements. Case and point we dont see any taliban in Iraq.