.:: SAMAA - Taliban demands NATO withdrawal

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Taliban of Afghanistan has demanded US to withdraw from the country during back channel talks, SAMAA learnt on Wednesday.

Sources told SAMAA that Taliban demanded that NATO forces should immediately withdraw from Afghanistan. Taliban also said that the change of the government in the country should be without foreign interference.

It has also been learnt that Taliban had agreed to allow female education in the country which was strictly forbidden during their last tenure.

Sources said that the strict attitude of Taliban is because of the new US policy of withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Diplomatic sources pointed out that the recent visit of CIA director, Leon Panetta, to Pakistan was to negotiate with Taliban.

SAMAA ANALYSIS-AMERICANS DIALOGUE WITH TALIBAN

On News Beat with Meher Bokhari

The guests at News Beat gave different view points on the American offer for talks with Taliban.

Zafar Hilaly, analyst said that Americans have failed in Afghanistan. Americans need to fix the date for their exist strategy. Taliban have clearly demanded from Americans that they need to leave Afghanistan in the first step then there would be negotiations with Americans. Americans are considering the option of exit strategy seriously. Pakistan must also support American exist strategy. If Pakistan would support American exit strategy then Taliban would not fight against Pakistan's security forces because they are only fighting against Pakistan because of Pakistan's alliance with America, he added.

Sami Yousafzai, senior journalist said that Americans want to have talks with Taliban because they want to stay in Afghanistan for a longer period to serve their interests. Americans want to take Taliban into confidence for serving their interests in the region. Taliban are not premature and they understand the tricks being used by Americans. Taliban tries to pressurize Afghan government. Taliban has increased the number of attacks in Afghanistan and they are targeting on various areas in Afghanistan. Many other people as Uzbeks and Chechens have also joined Taliban. If America leaves Afghanistan and Taliban comes to power in Afghanistan. That transition of power in Afghanistan would not be in favour of Pakistan because Taliban in power in Afghanistan would surely support Taliban of Pakistan and that would worsen situation in Pakistan, he added.

PAK SHOULD BE CONSULTED ON AFGHAN POLICY

Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has asked America to take Pakistan into confidence before finalizing the Afghan policy.

While talking to SAMAA at Kamra Monday (November 23), Kayani said that Pakistan has central position with reference to Afghanistan and America know this fact. He said that it is necessary to consult Pakistan while making any policy regarding Afghanistan.

Referring to the Batullah Mehsud group, he said that they will be followed and targeted whether they hide in FATA or go to other areas of Pakistan. After the Operation Rah-e-Nijat, terrorism will be eliminated from FATA and other tribal regions, he added.

US SHOULD CONSIDER PAK CONCERNS: PM

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said on November 21 that America should consider Pakistani concerns and point of view while making new Afghan policy.

The prime minister met with American intelligence agency CIA Director Leon Panetta Friday. Panetta also met President Asif Ali Zardari in the Presidential House.

The prime minister said that increasing the troops in Afghanistan can negatively affect situation in Baluchistan as well as war on terrorism in Pakistan. He said that the new US Afghan police should not change balance of power in South Asia. He said that it is necessary to remove misunderstandings and build an environment of trust between the two countries.

The CIA director said that America is aware of Pakistan's role in war on terrorism. He said that America is willing to establish long-term relations with Pakistan.

Both agreed on "operational functioning between the two militaries and intelligence agencies" to eliminate the terror threat.

AGENCIES ADD: It was his second visit since taking office this year and comes a week after US National Security Advisor James Jones held similar talks in Pakistan.

Obama has said he is weeks away from unveiling a long-awaited war strategy review in neighbouring Afghanistan, where commanders have warned the conflict will be lost without an extra 40,000 US troops.

He is also reportedly increasing pressure on Islamabad to fight not just militants who attack within Pakistan, but those using Pakistan as a base from which to fight the Kabul government and Western troops in Afghanistan.

Some Pakistani officials have expressed concern that any major US troop increase in Afghanistan could push Taliban fighters into Pakistan.

Yet Islamabad has warned against any precipitous US troop drawdown in case Afghan fighters pour across the border, exacerbating the rising security problems Pakistan has faced since the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

The United States has been increasingly disturbed by deteriorating security in Pakistan where attacks and bombings have killed more than 2,550 people in 29 months since troops laid siege to a radical mosque in the capital Islamabad.

In South Waziristan, Pakistan has been pressing its most ambitious offensive to date against the homegrown Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) since October 17, sending troops backed by fighter jets and helicopter gunships into battle.

AMERICANS NEED TO TAKE PAKISTAN INTO CONFIDENCE ON AFGHAN POLICY

On News Beat with Meher Bokhari

Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta's visit seems to have some important agenda but the issues included in the agenda do not come on screen easily, said Asad Durrani, former DG ISI in News Beat Friday.

"Leon Panetta seems to have come to Pakistan on the instructions of President Barrack Obama to take Pakistan into confidence regarding the issue of the American policy on Afghanistan. Secondly, he could have come to take Pakistan into confidence regarding their exit strategy," he said.

Americans want to negotiate with the Taliban and they want to get Pakistan's help for this purpose. Both Pakistan and United States’ intelligence agencies have reservations from each other. There is a need for both the parties to end their reservations. If Americans have any exit strategy in their minds then they need to tell it to Pakistan because it would further clear things and help both countries have clear policies and confidence on each other, he added. SAMAA/ AGENCIES