Afghan politicians call for direct talks with Taliban

Afghan politicians have called for direct talks with Taliban fighters and an end to military operations by international forces unless they first come under attack.

In a new draft law, which was passed yesterday by a voice vote in the upper house of parliament, they said a differentiation must be made between Afghan Taliban, Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaida fighters, and that negotiations should be held with Taliban militants from Afghanistan to persuade them to accept the Afghan government.

The resolution also called for international forces to end military operations unless they were attacked or if they had first consulted with the Afghan army, government or police.

Lt. Col. David Accetta, a US military spokesman, said he was aware of the politicians’ action but did not have an immediate response. “It remains to be seen what impact it will have,” he said.

A spokeswoman at Nato’s International Security Assistance Force declined to comment.

The bill would also need to be approved by the lower house and then signed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai before becoming law.

Mr Karzai has previously called for negotiations to be held with Afghan members of the Taliban, and Nato military officials have said they would rather convince Taliban fighters to join the government than kill them during military action.

Western and Afghan officials say only a few members of the Taliban are hardcore, ideological fighters, and that many of the militants fight only for pay or because they are forced to.

Officials also say that many of the Taliban’s hardcore leaders live in Pakistan, a charge Pakistan denies.

The draft bill says that Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaida fighters are the enemy of Afghanistan.

It also says that when the Afghan army and police ranks reach their target numbers, a timetable should be drafted for international military forces to leave the country.

The army and police likely won’t reach their target goals for several years.