LONDON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Efforts toward peace in Afghanistan cannot avoid reintegrating some moderate Taliban militants into the system, NATO's Afghan representative said.
Mark Sedwill -- currently Britain's Ambassador to Afghanistan and set to be NATO's representative in that country -- spoke Wednesday about the Afghan government's proposal to bring back those militants who are willing to cut their links with extremist groups and give up violence. His comments came ahead of Thursday's international conference in London on Afghanistan."If we are going to bring conflicts like Afghanistan to an end … that means some pretty unsavory characters are going to have to be brought within the system," Sedwill said at London's Frontline Club, Guardian newspaper reported. "Because if you don't bring them within the system in some way … you risk whatever fragile peace you build falling apart."
The Taliban reintegration plan proposed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government has qualified support of Western allies, who have expressed concern about any reconciliation talks with Taliban leaders.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was quoted as telling the Guardian: "Pakistan is perhaps better placed than any other country in the world to support Afghan reintegration and reconciliation. Why? We speak the same language, we have common tribes, a common religion, we have a commonality of history, culture and tradition.
"But it (Pakistani mediation) depends on whether we are asked to do so. If asked, the government of Pakistan would be happy to facilitate."
The United Nations, acting on Karzai's request, Tuesday deleted from its blacklist the names of five former Taliban officials who are no longer involved in the insurgency. Those on the blacklist are banned from foreign travel and their assets are to be frozen. UPI
Mark Sedwill -- currently Britain's Ambassador to Afghanistan and set to be NATO's representative in that country -- spoke Wednesday about the Afghan government's proposal to bring back those militants who are willing to cut their links with extremist groups and give up violence. His comments came ahead of Thursday's international conference in London on Afghanistan."If we are going to bring conflicts like Afghanistan to an end … that means some pretty unsavory characters are going to have to be brought within the system," Sedwill said at London's Frontline Club, Guardian newspaper reported. "Because if you don't bring them within the system in some way … you risk whatever fragile peace you build falling apart."
The Taliban reintegration plan proposed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government has qualified support of Western allies, who have expressed concern about any reconciliation talks with Taliban leaders.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was quoted as telling the Guardian: "Pakistan is perhaps better placed than any other country in the world to support Afghan reintegration and reconciliation. Why? We speak the same language, we have common tribes, a common religion, we have a commonality of history, culture and tradition.
"But it (Pakistani mediation) depends on whether we are asked to do so. If asked, the government of Pakistan would be happy to facilitate."
The United Nations, acting on Karzai's request, Tuesday deleted from its blacklist the names of five former Taliban officials who are no longer involved in the insurgency. Those on the blacklist are banned from foreign travel and their assets are to be frozen. UPI
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