It had been rumoured before that the US was having secret parleys with the Taliban. The latest report that the Taliban is prepared to negotiate a deal with the US does not carry conviction. The Taliban’s intention seems to be to prevent Afghanistan from plunging into chaos and strife following the US and NATO withdrawal. However, a suicide blast which killed 16 people in the northern city of Kunduz despite heavy police presence a few days ago dims optimism generated by the report. The proposed talks which are scheduled to be held in Dohano appear to be an uncertain proposition. William Patey, a former British ambassador to Afghanistan told a House of Commons committee that the rebels would postpone peace talks until after the Western pull-out.
This is not to say that there is no truth in the report which is based on interviews with four top Taliban leaders. They are said to be prepared to accept a ceasefire, sever all links with al-Qaida, seek representation in the power structure, whittle down gender inequality, neutralize the Haqqanis, ensure that international terrorists do not operate from Afghanistan and allow the US to retain its military bases in Afghanistan beyond 2014. In exchange, the US has to stop drone bombing and there should be Western acceptance of a Sharia-based regime in Kabul. Any peace move will be in India’s interest. But the Karzai government, however weak, may not agree to the deal. The US public, though fed-up with US armed intervention in Afghanistan, may not like a bargain with the Taliban. The future remains uncertain.
