Jirga delegates thrash out Taliban peace proposal

Afghan peace conference delegates are today fine-tuning the details of a proposal to negotiate with the Taliban in a bid to end years of conflict in the country.

With violence running at record levels, president Hamid Karzai wants to offer rank-and-file insurgents amnesties and other incentives to lay down their arms, and to hold talks with top Taliban leaders if they renounce al-Qaida and vow to uphold the constitution.