Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Afghan Taliban Given Green Light To Open Official Liaison Office In Qatar…


WEASEL ZIPPERS


Since the Taliban isn’t our enemy according to Biden, it’s cool to host their office in Qatar, where the headquarters for U.S. CENTCOM is based.
KABUL, Afghanistan (CBS/AP) — The Afghan Taliban said on Tuesday they have reached a preliminary deal with the Gulf state of Qatar to open a liaison office there in what could be the first step toward peace talks to end more than a decade of war.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the liaison office will conduct negotiations with the international community. He did not say when it would open.
For the United States and its allies, the idea of a Taliban political office in the Qatari capital Doha has become the central element in efforts to draw the insurgents into peace talks.
“Right now, having a strong presence in Afghanistan, we still want to have a political office for negotiations,” said Mujahid. “In this regard, we have started preliminary talks and we have reached a preliminary understanding with relevant sides, including the government of Qatar, to have a political office for negotiations with the international community.”
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