It appears that NATO troops failed to tackle the Taliban spreading threat in the Afghanistan.In the recent months, Afghan government and its western allies increased their efforts for reconciliation with Taliban fighters so to end up the nine years war.

One of the efforts made by Afghan government for reconciliation with Taliban was the consultative peace council which was commenced in Kabul two month ago.

This council proposed to the Afghan government to remove the names of Taliban leaders out of the UN black list and free the Taliban prisoners from Afghan jails, in order to persuade the Taliban fighters to give up fighting.

Despite the efforts made by the Afghan government for reconciliation with Taliban militants, the Taliban leadership rejects any peace talks with Afghan government.

The Taliban “Quetta Shura” a senior decision maker council of this group underlines the exit of U.S. led forces from Afghanistan is the key to end the war.

A statement published by the Taliban militants in their website says Taliban are all set to peace talks with Afghan government if the U.S. leaves Afghanistan.

However, Afghan officials said they are prepared for any peace meeting with Taliban insurgents if Taliban accept the government conditions and lay down their guns.

“Insurgents willing to lay down their arms and have not any connections to international terrorists groups, can joint the Afghan government.” President Karzai’s spokesman said.  

Afghans believe that any kind of political solution and peace talks with Taliban would be a failure and it can not stop the war.

“Taliban are in much better condition than the NATO troops and Afghan security forces in the country and the Taliban don’t intend to set up any peace talks with Afghan government.” Samad Ebrihimi, an independent journalist in Kabul told La Specual.com

Mr. Ebrihimi believes that despite the presence of 140,000 of U.S. led forces and 200,000 Afghan National Police (ANP) and Afghan National Army (ANA),  at least 60% of the Afghanistan soil is over the Taliban control and they have installed their rule on these areas.  

According to him, unemployment, poverty, scarcity of public services, insecurity, and corruption among the Afghan government officials has drawn a red line between the people and Afghan government.

However, several meeting between representatives of Afghan government and Taliban militants had taken place in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but Taliban and Afghan officials turn down any prior contacts with each other.

“Afghan government had no contacts with either Taliban or Haqqani network.” Spokesman for Afghan President Waheed Omar said.

Meanwhile, ISAF officials in Kabul are optimist about the peace talks between Afghan government and Taliban, reaffirming that majority of Taliban fighters are “paid fighters”, and they don’t have interest for the Taliban principles and leadership.

As the ISAF officials said majority of these young fighters are with Taliban for money and the peace process is an excellent opportunity for these fighters to joint the Afghan government.

ISAF spokesman underlines the low payment a reason can persuade the Taliban fighters to give up fighting.

“Taliban fighters are dissatisfied with the low payment in comparison to the Afghan security forces and in some cases the militants’ commanders steal the pay of their fighters.” ISAF spokesman Gen. Joseph Blotz said.

“Over the past several months there have been multiple cases of insurgents seeking to reintegrate with their communities.” Gen. Blotz added “While these numbers have generally been small, they have been consistent.”

ISAF and Afghan officials in Kabul call the Pakistan role very important in any peace talks with Taliban leaders in Afghanistan, but Afghan experts highlighting the role of Pakistan in Afghanistan dangerous and harmful, since this country has played an important role in devastation and killing of Afghans over the past 30 years.

“Any kind of Peace talk with Taliban is very risky because Pakistanis are backing the Taliban insurgents.” Mr. Nangarhari an Afghan political expert said.

Afghan experts said that Pakistan involvement in any peace talks with the Taliban militants would be harmful to the future of Afghanistan and Pakistan would profit of this peace talks.

Photo: Guardian.uk