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Al-Qaeda fighters swell Taliban ranks
[Al Jazeera] As the US commemorates the anniversary of the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington DC, Al Jazeera has gained exclusive access to a Taliban group in northern Afghanistan where foreign al-Qaeda fighters are bolstering their forces.

The US launched its war in Afghanistan just weeks after the 9/11 attacks, accusing the now-ousted Taliban government of harbouring Osama Bin Laden, al-Qaeda's leader.

But nine years later, Bin Laden remains on the lam and al-Qaeda and the Taliban continue to wage war against the US and its allies, their ranks swelled by an influx of foreign fighters.
Most likely not actual Al Qaeda, though. There are supposedly only about 100 Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, and, if I recall correctly, something like 1,000 in Pakistan... but
Arabs don't take orders from Pakistani hicks. There are Uzhbeks and Chechnyans and such, though -- perhaps that's what the Al Jazeera reporter meant?
Peace dialogue
Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai, the Afghan president, on Friday called for the Taliban to cease fighting his government and enter into dialogue to find an end to the country's conflict.

Karzai also called on his US and Nato allies, which now have 150,000 troops in the country, to focus on Taliban bases over the border in Pakistain rather than fighting in Afghan villages.

A council to pursue peace talks with the Taliban was announced last week, and is supposed to be made up of around 50 representatives of a broad section of Afghan society.

Karzai is expected to announce the membership line-up of the council after the Eid al-Fitr holidays, which marks the end of Ramadan.

The formation of the "High Peace Council" is considered one of the most significant steps Karzai has taken in his oft-stated efforts to open a dialogue with the Taliban leadership.

The Taliban have repeatedly rejected peace efforts, labelling Karzai's government a puppet of the United States and saying they will not talk peace until all foreign forces have left the country.
Posted by: Fred 2010-09-16
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=305683