Afghanistan Conflict Monitor

Dimensions Of The Afghan Insurgency

Thomas Ruttig, 'Dimensions Of The Afghan Insurgency: Causes, Actors And Approaches To Talks', Afghanistan Analyst Network, 14 July 2009

EXCERPT: "The report shows that the insurgency is not just 'terrorist'. Many fighters are driven by internal Afghan problems: bad governance, alienation and an increasing sense of occupation. Amongst the Taleban, as the insurgency's core, there are pragmatic elements. There is an internal debate and some Taleban look for a political solution. The report recommends to explore how contacts can be developed without compromising progress made in Afghanistan since 2001. The international community needs to urge the Afghan government to take the lead in a coordinated and consistent strategy of 'talks' and reconciliation efforts. This strategy must include: options for outreach to all components of the insurgency; the establishment of 'red lines' (or principles of engagement) for negotiations; viable mechanisms that sustainably and honourably can absorb and integrate reconciled individuals and groups socially and politically. It needs to be embedded in increased efforts to enhance good governance at the national and sub-national levels in Afghanistan and working with Pakistan. All policies should be informed by the acknowledgement that Islamic terrorism cannot effectively be fought through alliances with Islamist extremists and corrupt politicians."

To continue reading the report, click here [pdf].

Related posts:
'Defining actors and its consequences for "coalition strategy"', 19 June 2009
'Karzai objects to direct US talks with Taliban', 20 April 2009
'Reconciling with the Taliban?', 13 April 2009
'US reconciliation offer "lunatic": Taliban', 1 April 2009
'Mullah Omar: Peace talk "just enemies' propaganda"', 23 December 2008

Taliban Scrap Peace Deal In Pakistan Tribal Area

'Taliban Scrap Peace Deal In Pakistan Tribal Area', The Associated Press, 30 June 2009

EXCERPT: "Taliban militants in a tribal region bordering Afghanistan say they have pulled out of a peace deal with the government, raising the prospect of wider unrest as the Pakistani army extends its efforts to eliminate insurgents. The militants in North Waziristan blamed continuing U.S. missile strikes and army offensives against the Taliban for their decision, which was announced in the wake of a Taliban ambush that killed 16 soldiers. Separately, a car bombing Tuesday struck trucks taking supplies to Western troops in Afghanistan, killing four people in Pakistan's southwest, police said. No one claimed responsibility for the explosion in Baluchistan province, but militants have frequently targeted supply trucks for U.S. and NATO troops that travel through Pakistani territory. Government leaders and Taliban representatives reached the North Waziristan peace accord in February 2008, but few details have been released about it."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Who are the Pakistan Taliban?', The Globe and Mail, 29 June 2009
'Support for Pakistan's anti-Taliban war seen solid', Reuters, 29 June 2009
'Pakistan says Taliban supplied with guns, cash from Afghanistan', Bloomberg, 25 June 2009
'A difficult road ahead', DAWN, 25 June 2009
'Pakistan face tough Taliban foe in tribal belt', AFP, 15 June 2009

Related posts:
'Pakistan-Afghanistan introduce new border security', 8 May 2009
'Taliban threatens spring offensive', 29 April 2009
'The dynamics of "AfPak" conflict', 23 April 2009
'Reconciling with the Taliban?', 13 April 2009
'Afghans face obstacles in securing Pakistan border', 4 March 2009

Canada Backs Talks Between Karzai and Taliban

 'Canada Backs Talks Between Karzai and Taliban', The Globe and Mail, 3 June 2009

EXCERPT: "Canada says it supports peace talks under way between President Hamid Karzai's Afghan government and representatives of the Taliban and other insurgent groups, but cautions they will have to accept the Kabul government's authority. Neither Canadian nor U.S. officials are involved in the talks in the United Arab Emirates, although Afghan government officials have said they believe they have the tacit support of the Americans to engage with the insurgents. Some European countries have expressed support for talks aimed at bringing in elements of the Taliban who might be willing to renounce violence, arguing that a political settlement is key to lasting peace. But U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said May 22 that he believes the Taliban will not make real concessions until they start to lose on the battlefield, although ending any war requires some level of reconciliation."

To continue reading article, click here.

See also:
'No sacrifice of human rights, democracy in Taliban talks: Afghan ambassador', The Canadian Press, 1 June 2009
'Terms for peace in Afghanistan', The Boston Globe, 28 May 2009
'Canada offers assistance in Afghanistan reconciliation', National Post, 28 May 2009
'US pullout a condition in Afghan peace talks', The New York Times, 20 May 2009

Related posts:
'UK backs Afghan effort to reintegrate Taliban', 22 May 2009
'Peace mediators contact Mullah Omar', 13 May 2009
'Canadian PM makes surprise visit to Afghanistan', 7 May 2009
'Progress made in talks with Taliban: Govt', 21 April 2009
'Karzai objects to direct US talks with Taliban', 20 April 2009

UK Backs Afghan Efforts To Reintegrate Taliban

'UK Backs Afghan Efforts To Reintegrate Taliban', Reuters, 21 May 2009

EXCERPT: "Britain voiced support on Thursday for Afghan government efforts to reintegrate Taliban insurgents who abandon violence, saying a political settlement is needed to bring peace to the country. 'Peace and security in Afghanistan does not turn purely on the men in uniform; it depends on a broader and more inclusive poiltical settlement,' British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in a speech to the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. 'That is why we must support the Afghan government's efforts to reintegrate those Taliban who are prepared to abandon violence, engage in the democratic political process and renounce al Qaeda.' Former Taliban officials have been trying to mediate between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the insurgents since late last year. The mediators are pushing the government to provide asylum for members of the Taliban and other armed opposition groups as part of an effort to pave the way for peace talks."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Timing not right for deal with Taliban: US', AFP, 22 May 2009
'US pullout a condition in Afghan peace talks', The New York Times, 20 May 2009

Related posts:
'Progress made in talks with Taliban: Govt', 21 April 2009
'Karzai objects to direct US talks with Taliban', 20 April 2009
'Reconciling with the Taliban?', 13 April 2009
'Taliban say want peace with Afghans, NATO troops out', 26 February 2009
'US reconciliation offer "lunatic": Taliban', 1 April 2009

Peace Mediators Contact Mullah Omar

'Afghan Peace Mediators In Contact With Mullah Omar', Reuters India, 13 May 2009

EXCERPT: "Ex-Taliban officials now acting as intermediaries have contacted Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and other senior militants in a bid to set up peace talks with the Afghan government, a member of the team said on Wednesday. The mediators are pushing the government to provide asylum for members of the Taliban and other armed opposition groups as part of an effort to pave the ground for future peace talks, he told Reuters in an interview. Since starting the initiative, the team has held discussions with Karzai, the Western powers who have troops in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, as well as with the militant leaders, Rahmani said. The proposed plan would also include discussion of removing names of insurgents from wanted lists of European nations, the United States and the United Nations, as well as the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan, he said. That would be followed by a ceasefire and debate on the constitution and type of government. The Taliban have refused to hold talks with the government as long as foreign troops remain in Afghanistan. There are now 47,000 U.S. troops and 33,000 from other Western countries in Afghanistan, with the U.S. contingent set to rise to 68,000 by the end of this year."

To continue reading the article, click here.

Related posts:
'Progress made in talks with Taliban: Govt', 21 April 2009
'Key Afghan insurgents open door to talks', 18 March 2009
'Taliban say want peace with Afghans, NATO troops out', 26 February 2009
'Mullah Omar: Peace talk "just enemies' propaganda"', 23 December 2008

Progress Made In Talks With Taliban: Govt

'Progress Made In Talks With Taliban, Afghan Government Says', CBC News, 21 April 2009

EXCERPT: "The Afghan government says it has made progress in talks with elements of the Taliban, and that some international allies have agreed to drop the names of certain militants from a wanted list. Speaking to reporters in Kabul on Tuesday, a spokesman for President Hamid Karzai confirmed there had been some talks with militants focused on calming violence that has risen in recent years. 'We shouldn't expect a quick outcome, but there has been some developments. There are some contacts at different levels,' said Humayoun Hamidzada. He declined to give further details to the media, citing the sensitivity of the discussions. But a spokesman for the Taliban, Qari Yousef Ahamdi, denied the Taliban held negotiations with Afghan officials. 'It is just propaganda,' he said. 'No level of commanders have had negotiations. The Taliban have said several times that we won't do any negotiations while American and NATO forces are present in Afghanistan.' The Taliban have said repeatedly they will fight until international forces leave the country."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Afghan govt: No breakthroughs in militant talks', The Associated Press, 21 April 2009
'Winning over tribal leaders' fluid loyalties key to Afghan mission's success', The Globe and Mail, 21 April 2009

Related posts:
'Taliban say want peace with Afghans, NATO troops out', 26 February 2009
'US reconciliation offer "lunatic": Taliban', 1 April 2009
'Mullah Omar: Peace talk "just enemies' propaganda"', 23 December 2008
'Afghan Taliban leader rejects Karzai's safety vow', 17 November 2008

Karzai Objects To Direct US Talks With Taliban

'Karzai Objects To Direct US Talks With Taliban', Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 20 April 2009

EXCERPT: "Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has said U.S. efforts to tame the growing Taliban insurgency through negotiations would fail unless his government agreed to such talks. The Obama administration has announced it will send more troops and economic assistance to Afghanistan as well as intensify diplomacy within the region in a bid to counter the Taliban, who now control large parts of the Asian nation. But in an interview with CNN, Karzai objected to the strategy of having U.S. military commanders in Afghanistan conduct direct talks with Taliban members in order to persuade them to abandon their struggle and join local militias. 'If you want to accomplish a local deal with a certain Taliban commander at a tactical level, good enough,' the Afghan leader told CNN's 'GPS' program. 'But even that has to be done in agreement with the Afghan administration [government] at the local, provincial level. Without that knowledge in the Afghan administration, this peace process will not go anywhere.'"

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'President Obama and the Taliban', American Chronicle, 20 April 2009
'Karzai agrees with US strategy, but says no al-Qaida bases in Afghanistan', VOA News, 19 April 2009
'No moderates in Taliban ranks: Haqqani', The News, 17 April 2009
'US "holds direct talks" with Afghanistan insurgents', The Telegraph, 7 April 2009

Related posts:
'Ex-Gitmo cleric urges dialogue with Taliban', 16 April 2009
'Reconciling with the Taliban?', 13 April 2009
'Key Afghan insurgents open door to talks', 18 March 2009
'Preliminary discussions with Taliban already under way', 11 March 2009
'Obama ponders outreach to elements of Taliban', 9 March 2009

Ex-Gitmo Cleric Urges Dialogue With Taliban

'Ex-Guantanamo Cleric Urges Dialogue With Taliban', Adnkronos International, 16 April 2009

EXCERPT: "If western nations want to negotiate a political solution with the Taliban, they must recognise it as an opposition force, give its members immunity from prosecution, and offer them a safe haven. This is what a former Taliban ambassador and ex-Guantamo Bay inmate, Abdul Salaam Zaeef, told Italian daily La Repubblica on Wednesday. 'If you really want to dialogue with the Taliban, you must recognise it as the opposition and guarantee immunity to its members,' said Zaeef. 'And the United Nations must give them safe passage to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Dubai, London, or wherever.' The Taliban do not trust United States president Barack Obama, Zaeef said. The Taliban are not divided between 'moderates' and hardliners, he said. The split is between 'the true Taliban', who mistrust ties with Al-Qaeda, and a larger group which receives funding and training from the terror network, he said."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Briefing: Who are the Taliban?', The Christian Science Monitor, 16 April 2009
'Taliban v. Taliban', Kashmir Watch, 16 April 2009
'The mother of all cockfights', Asia Times Online, 16 April 2009
'Is the US selling out to the Taliban?', UTV, 12 April 2009

Related posts:
'Reconciling with the Taliban?', 13 April 2009
'US reconciliation offer "lunatic": Taliban', 1 April 2009
'Preliminary discussions with Taliban already under way', 11 March 2009
'Mullah Omar: Peace talk "just enemies' propaganda"', 23 December 2008
'Afghan Taliban leader rejects Karzai's safety vow', 17 November 2008

Swat Peace Deal Breaks Down

'Sufi Mohammed Calls Off Swat Peace Deal', Pashtun Post, 9 April 2009

EXCERPT: "The chief of outlawed Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-Mohammedi has withdrawn from the peace deal with the government and has said all peace camps in the region will be abolished, DawnNews has reported. Mohammed, who brokered the peace deal between the Taliban and the government of Pakistan has claimed that the authorities have used delaying tactics in imposing the Nizam-i-Adal (Islamic courts) in the Swat region. The announcement casts serious doubt on the durability of a cease-fire in the Swat valley that critics, including U.S. officials, worry will create another sanctuary for allies of al-Qaida less than 100 miles (161 kilometers) from the capital, Islamabad. Imposing Islamic law in Swat was the key plank of an accord worked out in February between the provincial government and Sufi Mohammed, an Islamic cleric who once led thousands of volunteers to fight U.S. forces in Afghanistan but has since renounced violence. Thanks in part to Mohammed's mediation, the agreement ended 18 months of terror and bloody clashes that left hundreds dead and forced up to one-third of the previously prosperous valley's 1.5 million residents to flee."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Violence in Swat may erupt again', The Times of India, 9 April 2009
'Pakistan, Taliban truce appears to be on shaky ground', The Wall Street Journal, 9 April 2009
'Swat peace agreement collapses', The Long War Journal, 9 April 2009
'Pakistan cleric slams Zardari over sharia delay', AFP, 9 April 2009
'Militant or peace broker? A profile of the Swat valley's Maulana Sufi Muhammad', The Jamestown Foundation / Terrorism Monitor Volume 7 Issue 7, 26 March 2009

Related posts:
'Pakistan militants strengthen in heartland', 24 March 2009
'Afghanistan, Pakistan: The battlespace of the border', 14 October 2008
'Peace deals that destabilize Afghanistan', 4 July 2008
'Pakistan agrees to "peace agreement" with Taliban', 21 May 2008
'Pakistan's elected government unable to deal with Taliban groups', 13 May 2008

US Reconciliation Offer "Lunatic": Taliban

'US Reconciliation Offer "Lunatic": Taliban Spokesman', Reuters, 1 April 2009

EXCERPT: "Taliban insurgents reject a U.S. offer of 'honourable reconciliation', a top spokesman said on Wednesday, calling it a 'lunatic idea' and saying the only way to end the war was to withdraw foreign troops. With the Afghan conflict now in its eighth year, NATO-led forces and the Taliban are locked in a bloody stalemate with violence set to rise further this year as more U.S. troops arrive and seek to contain the insurgency ahead of August elections. If the U.S. plan fails to show results, analysts say, time is on the Taliban side. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told an international conference on Afghanistan on Tuesday that those members of the Taliban who abandoned extremism must be granted an 'honourable form of reconciliation'. 'This matter was also raised in the past,' said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, referring to comments last month by Obama, who spoke of reaching out to moderate Taliban. 'They have to go and find the moderate Taliban, their leader and speak to them. This is a lunatic idea,' Mujahid said by telephone from an unknown location. Mujahid is one of two spokesman authorised to speak for the Taliban leadership council, headed by Mullah Mohammad Omar."

To continue reading the article, click here.

See also:
'Afghan rebels "getting stronger"', BBC News, 1 April 2009
'US lawmakers assess challenges in Afghanistan', VOA News, 1 April 2009
'Military: Afghanistan needs more time, money', The Associated Press, 1 April 2009
'Afghanistan: Ignorance is blitz', The Strategy Page, 29 March 2009

Related posts:
'Taliban say want peace with Afghans, NATO troops out', 26 February 2009
'Mullah Omar: Peace talk "just enemies' propaganda"', 23 December 2008
'Afghan Taliban leader rejects Karzai's safety vow', 17 November 2008
'Karzai seeks Saudi help in Taliban peace talks', 30 September 2008
'Peace deals that destabilize Afghanistan', 4 July 2008