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| Afghanistan |
| Top Afghan officials allegedly speak with Taliban nearly everyday |
| 2017-08-30 |
| [DAWN] Despite seemingly stalled peace talks between Afghanistan's government and the Taliban ...the Pashtun equivalent of men... , officials say the Afghan intelligence chief speaks by telephone with myrmidon leaders nearly every day about the country's constitution and political future. In addition, Afghanistan's national security adviser has conversations with the Taliban every other month, officials familiar with the efforts said. The News Agency that Dare Not be Named has seen documents allegedly describing the conversations between the Afghan officials and the Taliban leadership in Pakistain and the Gulf state of Qatar ...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates... , where they maintain an office. While Afghan officials said neither side was ready to agree to public peace talks, the documents allegedly revealed details of the issues discussed, including the Taliban's apparent willingness to accept Afghanistan's constitution and future elections. A senior Afghan security official, who had taken notes on the details of talks, rifled through a black leather-bound book until he came to a list he called "Taliban talking points". The Afghan security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the media, claimed the Taliban wanted certain amendments to the constitution although not immediately. They also envisioned an Islamic system of governance in Afghanistan, he said. Among the Taliban's demands, according to the official: They accepted education for boys and girls at all levels, but wanted segregation by gender. Women could be employed in all fields, including defence and the judiciary, and they could serve as judges at all levels except the Supreme Court. The Taliban wanted constitutional guarantees that a woman could not be president. Special courts should be established to oversee thousands of cases that allege land was taken illegally by the rich and powerful in the post-Taliban era. Many of the land owners are former warlords who are now in the government. The Taliban wants the land returned to those from whom it was taken. Elections could be held after an interim government is established, with no one affiliated with past governments allowed to serve in the interim administration. The Taliban said all sides could keep areas currently under their control until voting is held. |
| Posted by:Fred |