Taliban Says No to Karzai On Offer of Peace Talks

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Associated Press
Tuesday, November 18, 2008; Page A23

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Nov. 17 -- Taliban insurgents rejected an offer of peace talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, reiterating Monday their position that there would be no negotiations until foreign troops leave Afghanistan.

Karzai offered Sunday to provide security for reclusive Taliban leader Mohammad Omar if he enters negotiations, But Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said there could be no talks while foreign troops are in the country.

Karzai has dismissed the demand for foreign troops to leave, saying they are needed to keep Afghanistan safe.

The Afghan president has long supported drawing the Taliban into the political mainstream if the group accepts the country's constitution and repudiates al-Qaeda.

U.S. political and military leaders are also considering negotiating with some elements of the Taliban as the insurgency gains sway in large areas of Afghanistan, especially its south and east. Afghanistan is going through its worst violence since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 ousted the Taliban government.

But no senior Taliban leader has yet publicly indicated that the hard-line Islamist movement is willing to enter serious talks with what they call Karzai's "puppet government."