Kabul-Taliban talks

THE efforts by Saudi King Abdullah to find a negotiated settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan, should be seen as an attempt to prevent the region from slipping into further chaos. According to western news agencies, the King invited Taliban leaders and some Afghan government officials late in Ramadan and tried to hammer out some sort of agreement. The talks were successful to a degree as both parties appeared willing to undergo a change of heart: the Taliban agreed to sever their links with Al-Qaeda, while the government was ready to give national reconciliation including factions of Afghan resistance, a chance to contribute to peace-building efforts in the country. This option of finding a political solution is also shared by other partners like the UK, whose commander in Afghanistan Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith said the other day that talks with Taliban were the only way to progress.

Earlier, President Hamid Karzai, while talking to a reporter, referred to the Taliban as 'brothers'. There should be little doubt that it is the ever-mounting violence that has brought the foes together. The conditions are getting tougher for the allies as more than 221 soldiers have died this year alone. The civilian casualties is another factor that evokes concern. According to UN, 1,500 civilians died in the year 2007. The only way out thus is to end hostilities and the withdrawal of troops. The freedom-loving Afghans should be left to carve out their own destiny.