Taliban Leader Mullah Omar Urges Seven Point Plan for Peace
New America Media
Editor's Note: While President-elect Barack Obama vows to pull back from Iraq and focus military action on Afghanistan, Taliban leader Mullah Omar is working hard to negotiate his way out of this situation. Jalal Ghazi is the associate producer of the Peabody Award-winning show "Mosaic: World News from the Middle East," and writer of the column Eye on Arab Media for New America Media.
Taliban leader Mullah Omar released a statement warning that the increase of U.S. troops in Afghanistan will have a direct relation to the level of violence there, and vowed to direct attacks at NATO forces. But, as an alternative, he offered a "seven point plan" to resolve the conflict.
According to Press TV, a 24-hour news channel based in Tehran, Mullah Omar delivered his plan through Saudi King Abdullah. The demands reflect a softening in the Taliban's position, despite their increasing influence.
Previously, the Taliban insisted that they would not enter peace negotiation unless all NATO and U.S. forces leave the country. Now, the Taliban are willing to accept a timetable for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and suggested the introduction of Muslim peacekeeping forces to ensure a smooth transition, until the Afghans can reach a consensus government.
(More here.)
Editor's Note: While President-elect Barack Obama vows to pull back from Iraq and focus military action on Afghanistan, Taliban leader Mullah Omar is working hard to negotiate his way out of this situation. Jalal Ghazi is the associate producer of the Peabody Award-winning show "Mosaic: World News from the Middle East," and writer of the column Eye on Arab Media for New America Media.
Taliban leader Mullah Omar released a statement warning that the increase of U.S. troops in Afghanistan will have a direct relation to the level of violence there, and vowed to direct attacks at NATO forces. But, as an alternative, he offered a "seven point plan" to resolve the conflict.
According to Press TV, a 24-hour news channel based in Tehran, Mullah Omar delivered his plan through Saudi King Abdullah. The demands reflect a softening in the Taliban's position, despite their increasing influence.
Previously, the Taliban insisted that they would not enter peace negotiation unless all NATO and U.S. forces leave the country. Now, the Taliban are willing to accept a timetable for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and suggested the introduction of Muslim peacekeeping forces to ensure a smooth transition, until the Afghans can reach a consensus government.
(More here.)
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