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Karzai calls for new Pak govt to back peace talks
 [Dawn] Afghanistan's Caped President Hamid Maybe I'll join the TalibanKarzai ... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtunface on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use... on Sunday called on Pakistain's incoming government to help negotiate an end to the Taliban insurgency that has ravaged his country for nearly 12 years. Talibs use Pakistain's border areas as a refuge to launch attacks across Afghanistan's south and east, and elements of the Pak state are accused of providing tacit support for the Islamist Death Eaters. Pakistain is suffering from its own domestic Taliban insurgency and has accused Afghanistan of providing shelter to some wanted commanders. "We hope that the government paves the way for peace and brotherhood with Afghanistan and cooperates in fighting terrorism and sincerely rooting out terrorist sanctuaries," Karzai said. The two countries need to work together to be "saved from the menace of terrorism", he said in a statement, welcoming Saturday's high voter turnout as a sign that people wanted democracy despite threats from krazed killers. The West sees Pakistain's involvement as crucial to securing a peace settlement in Afghanistan, where the Taliban have fought against US-led troops since 2001. But Afghanistan has accused Pakistain of imposing impossible conditions on peace talks, and small-scale border festivities have erupted in the latest sign of frayed tensions.  Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... 's election victory is unlikely to see a radical change in Pakistain policy with regards to Afghanistan as commentators say there is a wide degree of consensus on trying to assist peace efforts. Peace talks have also failed to start due to the Taliban's refusal to negotiate with Karzai, whom they dismiss as a puppet of the US. Islamabad backed the 1996-2001 Taliban regime in Afghanistan and is seen in Kabul as keeping close ties with krazed killer leaders ahead of the withdrawal next year of all international combat troops. Posted by: Fred 2013-05-13 |
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