Pakistan Military "Biggest Obstacle" to Afghan Reconciliation with Taliban, The Telegraph, 9 February 2010
EXCERPT: "Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, a former minister who is drawing up a peace strategy for Mr Karzai, said Pakistan had yet to offer any substantial help to reintegrate fighters from the movement it has been accused of harbouring and funding for 15 years. Mr Stanekzai leads the internationally funded initiative agreed at last month's London conference to offer Taliban foot soldiers and junior commanders security, jobs and political representation if they abandon the insurgency. The former cabinet minister appointed as a special adviser to the Afghan president told The Daily Telegraph Pakistan was 'crucial to the success of this programme' but progress in Islamabad was 'not very substantial'. Pakistan has been repeatedly accused by Kabul, London and Washington of turning a blind eye to insurgent bases in their border region where Taliban fighters can hide from coalition forces. They have also given sanctuary to the Taliban's ruling Quetta Shura, led by Mullah Mohammad Omar, who is believed to have fled Afghanistan following the 2001 US-led invasion. Mr Stanekzai said: 'Unless we address the problem of the sanctuaries, or disconnecting the leadership with the fighting and the violence, I think it is quite difficult to get to substantial results.'"
Read the full story.
Related articles:
Pakistan's military sets Afghan terms, Asia Times Online, 9 February 2010
Change in Pakistan requires respect, reconciliation, and religious freedom, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 February 2010
The Pakistan army and the Afghanistan war, openDemocracy, 25 November 2008
Afghan strikes by Taliban get Pakistan help, US aides say, The New York Times, 25 March 2009
Related reports and media:
The ISI and terrorism: Behind the accusations, Council on Foreign Relations, 28 May 2009
Pakistan's military connected to militants in Afghanistan [video interview], World Focus, 26 March 2009
Related posts:
Pakistan key to reconciliation with the Afghan Taliban, 3 February 2010
Pakistan turns down key US antiterrorism requests, 17 December 2009
Why Pakistan won't fight the Afghan Taliban, 20 November 2009
Pakistan spies stoke violence: Afghan advisor, 16 October 2009
The Taliban Quetta Shura: Fact or fiction?, 18 November 2009
