Pakistan, Afghanistan agree on Taliban Gulf office, direct talks

ISLAMABAD (AA) – Pakistan has reportedly agreed to use its influence to persuade the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan to reopen a Taliban representation office in Saudi Arabia and engage in direct talks with Kabul aimed at ending the over-one-decade-long insurgency in war-stricken Afghanistan. "Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached an understanding in this regard during the recent visit of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to Islamabad," a top Foreign Office official told Anadolu Agency, requesting anonymity due to the issue's sensitivity. "The two countries have agreed to reopen the Taliban's political office in Saudi Arabia," he added. The official claimed that Saudi Arabia had already consented to host the Taliban office. But he noted that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was also being considered as an alternative location. The Taliban opened an office in Doha, Qatar in June, but it was closed after Kabul objected to the office raising the Taliban flag. Karzai visited Islamabad last week, where he held talks with President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kyani. The visit had originally been scheduled for only one day, but Karzai extended his visit by another day at Sharif's request. "The prime minister requested that President Karzai extend his visit for a day to hold another round of talks, which was totally unscheduled, to reach an understanding vis-à-vis proposed peace talks and reopening the Taliban office," the FO official said. The second round of talks, attended by the chiefs of the army and intelligence apparatus, was held at Murree, a hilly resort located 70 kms from Islamabad. "The prime minister – except for two one-on-one meetings with President Karzai – had ensured the presence of army and intelligence chiefs in all sessions of dialogue between the two sides," said the official. "It has never happened in the past. President Karzai met the prime minister and the army chief, but [did so] separately," he maintained. The Taliban established their Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in 1996, which they ruled until 2001. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were the only three countries that had recognized the Taliban regime. Following the 9/11 attacks in the United States in 2001, Washington and its allies ousted the Taliban, accusing it of harboring and aiding Al-Qaeda, the militant group said to have been responsible for the attacks. The US-backed Karzai government was established in 2002 and has remained in power ever since. Backed by US-led foreign troops, the regime has continued to battle an increasingly deadly Taliban insurgency. - Expected The Foreign Office official said Pakistan had responded positively to Karzai's request for the release of Taliban leaders currently being held in Pakistan, including Mullah Abdul Ghani (alias Mullah Baradar), as a goodwill gesture before the resumption of Afghanistan-Taliban talks. Afghanistan believes that imprisoned Taliban leaders can play a role in persuading Taliban chief Mullah Omer to engage in direct talks with the Karzai government. Pakistan released a total of 26 Taliban prisoners in 2012, mostly at the request of Kabul. None of them, however, are known to have played any role in coaxing the Taliban leadership into a peace process. Kamal Hyder, an Islamabad-based political and security analyst, is not surprised. "It seems the two sides have understood that a regional solution to the [Afghan] imbroglio is the most suitable option," Hyder told AA. He said the army chief's presence at meetings between Sharif and Karzai was an indication that "something serious is in the offing." "After all, the army will be the decisive factor in regard to influencing," Hyder added. Kabul claims the Taliban enjoy safe haven in Pakistan and receive financial and training support from Pakistani military and intelligence – allegations vehemently refuted by Islamabad. "Sitting beside the prime minister in meetings with President Karzai, General Kyani has given a clear message that the government and the army are on the same pitch this time," Hyder contended. But the expert recognizes that persuading the Taliban will be a difficult task. "There is no doubt about Pakistan's influence over the Taliban keeping the warm relations between them in the near past," he said. "But they are not at all under the control of Pakistan." "The Taliban have time and again declared the Karzai government illegitimate. They do not recognize the Afghan constitution, which has been the prime demand of Afghan government," Hyder went on. "Last but not the least, it will be very difficult – if not impossible – to coax the Taliban to accept the presence of foreign troops, even in small numbers, on Afghan soil after the [expected 2014] pullout," he added. Despite of all the obstacles, Hyder argues, the resumption of talks is still the best option. He also believes that Saudi Arabia remains the best venue for the proposed Taliban office. "Saudi Arabia will be more suitable as both sides [the Taliban and the Afghan government] feel comfortable about that because of [the kingdom's] religious importance," he said. Hyder does not foresee major US opposition to the idea of holding direct talks between the Taliban and the Karzai regime. "It [the US], too, has meager options," he concluded. "It wants to leave Afghanistan, and both Pakistan and Afghanistan should help it in this regard." englishnews@aa.com.tr