Exclusive: Former Taliban see opening for talks

Well written AND informative. Would that we can/will learn from it.

Did you forget that the same Taliban you are talking about refused any rights(even education) for women and many general freedoms the majority of us today have grow accustomed to for its citizens?

hello,im a researcher of world religions 29 years.exodus ch 19:9-11,GOD spoke from the sky,to 2-3 million eyewitnesses,believe in moses forever.God never spoke from the sky,believe in muhammed,buddha,hare krishna,wicca,tribal shamanism etc.exodus ch 20:19-22,,,,GOD told us what to believe from the sky,to eyewitnesses,,,mathew ch9:5,,,mark ch9,,,luke ch 9,,,2peter ch1:16-18,,,,i have defeated every other religion in debate,,,muslims should memorize those verses,,,everyone else also,,,,there are similarities among religions,,,,BUT the HOLY BIBLE,GOD spoke from the sky,acts ch 9,,,humans have no excuse

Why are you western journalists so absolutely gullible and naive to the words and promises of brutes, thugs and ideological fanatics? Also, who are these so called experts you source? The Taliban interested in diplomatic protocols, are you serious? That is the stupidest thing I've heard. As if Mullah Omar was not privy to a number of bin Laden's plans, especially 9/11! Why do you think they were harboring bin Laden and Zawahari to begin with?
Look, while there is certainly a distinction between al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and the Taliban as organizations with different cultures and capabilities, there is really hardly any distinction between the philosophies and ideologies they live by. Sure, the Taliban are the local, native born radicals and not the global, transnationally funded organization that al-Qaeda is, but do you really believe that if the Taliban didn't have the resources and logistics to manage and execute a wider, broader jihadist movement, that they wouldn't go ahead and do it? If the Western World is prepared to sit down and negotiate with the Taliban and let bygones be bygones, then let me just make a few points that we (the US and our "allies") should be willing to accept if we want to retreat and allow the Taliban to have their way in Afghanistan (and Pakistan): 1) Be tolerant of the Talibans desire and determination to kill all moderate Muslims, 2) Be willing to accept the Taliban's treatment of women, which includes beatings, attacks on schoolgirls, murder of school girls, murder of women who may or may not have committed adultery, torture of women, and of course just the overall denial of any type of human rights or education to WOMEN, 3) Be tolerant of a culture that openly declares Jews to be Pigs and Monkeys, 4) Be tolerant of the Taliban's refusal to allow any non-Muslims even close to their land, unless they are their to convert, be humiliated or killed, and 5) God forbid the Taliban discover and homosexuals amongst their ranks, because it will not turn out well for them I promise you that. So accept brutal treatment of gays too.
So, if the US and its "allies" are willing to simply step back let a cultural entity such as the Taliban have their way in Afghanistan, well, because it won't effect us, it will simply effect all those Afghanis (and of course, they want to live that way, right) then go ahead and lets have a peace settlement tomorrow. However, don't be angry if I (as a United States Soldier) call you a coward to your face if I ever happen to cross your sorry path. Finally, to say that the Taliban is simply not just another al-Qaeda in the waiting would be naive and short-sighted. Really, trying to separate the Taliban and al-Qaeda is like trying to separate Austrian Nazis from German Nazis in 1939. Do we really need to try and do that?

Regards,
SPC Anthony Costello

Pakistan avganistan country terorists

If you hop over to the Christian Science Monitor you will find an article about International Muslim's that want peace in Afghanistan. Granted, it must be very humiliating for Afghanistans' to be constantly invaded by foreigners' over the centuries (religious and, or political). So, why can't the Muslim Community settle disputes in any Muslim Country? Surely the Muslim Community has religious leaders that could handle any dispute.

I am in two minds about this. On the one hand open dialiogue seems absolutely essential if we are ever to move forward.

But then I wonder what these men did to get into high positions in such an organization, would it be ethical to sit down at a table with them...