Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai said on Tuesday he has asked the Saudi Arabia's king to help facilitate peace talks with the Taliban in order to bring an end to the Afghan conflict. Mr. Karzai said there have not yet been any negotiations, only requests for help. But he said Afghan officials have travelled to both Saudi Arabia and to Pakistan in hopes of ending the conflict.
"For the last two years, I've sent letters to the king of Saudi Arabia and I've sent messages, and I requested from him as the leader of the Islamic world, for the security and prosperity of Afghanistan and for reconciliation in Afghanistan ... he should help us," said Mr. Karzai.
Mr. Karzai said the government is trying to encourage militants to lay down arms. He underscored that he has in the past reached out to Taliban leader Mullah Omar to "come back to your home soil and work for the happiness of the people."