.AFGHANISTAN: TALIBAN AND NATO 'IN TALKS' TO PULL OUT OF SEVERAL AREAS
Karachi, 23 Oct. (AKI) - (by Syed Saleem Shahzad) - Talks are underway between the Taliban and NATO forces - through tribal elders - over the pullout of troops from 12 districts along the Pakistan Afghan border, providing the Taliban make concessions to the NATO forces and agree not to attack their bases in those Afghan provinces where the deal is signed, North Waziristan-based sources told Adnkronos International (AKI). "So far all 12 districts are situated from Kandahar to Kunar, but later on there would be a consideration for other districts situated in Nangarhar province,” sources maintained.
A Taliban spokesperson, Mohammad Hanif, on Sunday said that both American and Afghan soldiers had pulled out of an area in eastern Afghanistan, under a deal clinched with tribal elders, the second in a week.
Hanif said that NATO forces and troops of the Afghan National Army had withdrawn from the Babrak Tana area in the Ali Sher district of the south-eastern province of Khost on Sunday night upon the mediation of tribal elders. The Taliban spokesperson referred to the alleged pull out as another major victory of the Taliban against NATO forces.
There has been no word of this alleged 'deal' from the NATO forces in Afghanistan.
A similar accord was struck between the Taliban and NATO forces through local tribal elders in the Musa Qala district in southern Helmand province. Under the agreement, British troops pulled out of the town on 17 October.
The tribal elders have said that they will install their own police to maintain security in return for the Taliban also leaving the town. Musa Qala is one of the districts where British soldiers have had to fight off intense attacks over the past three months.
British military commanders in Afghanistan have said that they are not refering to the deal in Musa Qala as a "ceasefire". But reports quoting Lt Col Andy Price said the move was a "seed of hope" which the army would "like to build on".
With the new arrangement in the Babrak Tana area, local tribal elders are now said to be responsible for security affairs.
Reports say that the Afghan president Hamid Karzai supported the agreement which led to the British troops' withdrawal from Musa Qala and it is believe that present deal in Ali Sher District has his tacit approval.
Hundreds of people have been killed, mainly in the south and east of Afghanistan, as violence has worsened between insurgents and NATO-led and Afghan forces this year.
AKI
A Taliban spokesperson, Mohammad Hanif, on Sunday said that both American and Afghan soldiers had pulled out of an area in eastern Afghanistan, under a deal clinched with tribal elders, the second in a week.
Hanif said that NATO forces and troops of the Afghan National Army had withdrawn from the Babrak Tana area in the Ali Sher district of the south-eastern province of Khost on Sunday night upon the mediation of tribal elders. The Taliban spokesperson referred to the alleged pull out as another major victory of the Taliban against NATO forces.
There has been no word of this alleged 'deal' from the NATO forces in Afghanistan.
A similar accord was struck between the Taliban and NATO forces through local tribal elders in the Musa Qala district in southern Helmand province. Under the agreement, British troops pulled out of the town on 17 October.
The tribal elders have said that they will install their own police to maintain security in return for the Taliban also leaving the town. Musa Qala is one of the districts where British soldiers have had to fight off intense attacks over the past three months.
British military commanders in Afghanistan have said that they are not refering to the deal in Musa Qala as a "ceasefire". But reports quoting Lt Col Andy Price said the move was a "seed of hope" which the army would "like to build on".
With the new arrangement in the Babrak Tana area, local tribal elders are now said to be responsible for security affairs.
Reports say that the Afghan president Hamid Karzai supported the agreement which led to the British troops' withdrawal from Musa Qala and it is believe that present deal in Ali Sher District has his tacit approval.
Hundreds of people have been killed, mainly in the south and east of Afghanistan, as violence has worsened between insurgents and NATO-led and Afghan forces this year.
AKI
posted by madtom at 4:06 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home