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| Afghanistan | ||
| Lower-level Taliban reintegrating in Afghanistan in growing numbers -- | ||
| 2010-10-15 | ||
(KUNA) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday said she was increasingly convinced that many of the lower-level Taliban are, in increasing numbers, laying down their arms and coming back into Afghan society.
Asked about reports that Taliban leaders will be allowed to take part in peace talks in Afghanistan, Clinton noted that for more than a year, U.S. officials have said they were willing to support reintegration -- people on the battlefield coming off and going back into their society -- and reconciliation, a political process to work out terms of peace with those who had led the Taliban. The conditions were that these individuals had to renounce violence, lay down their arms, renounce al-Qaeda and be willing to abide by the laws and constitution of Afghanistan, she noted. But it is very early in the process, Clinton said. Meanwhile, U.S. military troops, along with NATO and International Security Assistance Force troops, are each day hunting down and killing Taliban who are killing Afghans and allied soldiers, "so this is at the real beginning of what process might unfold," she said. U.S. General David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, as well as other military leaders, believe that there will be places in Afghanistan that can be transitioned over to Afghan control, Clinton said. Afghan security forces have made significant progress, but "are not where they need to be yet, and they know that," she said. But in certain areas like Kabul, where they are taking a much greater role in defending the capital city, and some of the other provinces where they have good relations with local leaders, "I think that there can be transitions that do start to occur," she added. U.S. military and civilian leaders "are very cautious about that," Clinton said. "They want to make sure that it is done right." U.S. officials "want to put the responsibility on the Afghans themselves to begin showing that they will stand and fight and defend their country against the threat of the Taliban," she said. In neighboring Pakistain, U.S. officials are pressing "very hard" that the Pak government do more with its military and intelligence forces to go after those segments of the Pakistain Taliban network that are connected with al Qaeda and crossing into Afghanistan, "going after our military as well as Afghan targets," Clinton said. "And we are going to keep pressing, because we think there is no way to divide this threat."
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| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 Conveniently NOT mentioned is the fact these people are paid a stipend by the gov't (OUR GOV'T) for "laying down their arms" and making the pledge. The so called "reintegration" has become a seasonal ritual for the Taliban. The money helps carry them through the harsh winter. In the early Spring, they take up arms once again against the infidel. Your tax dollars at work. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-10-15 04:47 |
| #2 DAILY TIMES.PK > US WILL DO "WHATEVER IT TAKES" [to peacefully positively reconcile Taliban, etal. violent Militants into normal PAK Govt-Society]. Espec as per [fair = reasonable]POWER-SHARING IN PAK GOVT. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-10-15 00:28 |
| #1 Versus * TOPIX > OFFICIALS: US, WESTERN MILITANTS TRICKLING INTO PAKISTAN, for Jihadist training wid some disguising themselves as "Moderates" [Neutrals]. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-10-15 00:25 |