United States Not Involved in Any Taliban Negotiations

3 November 2008 By David McKeeby Staff Writer

U.S. supports political reconciliation in Afghanistan, says State’s Boucher

Washington — The United States actively supports efforts by Afghanistan’s government to reach out to militants willing to lay down their arms, but has no plans for direct negotiations with the former Taliban regime, says Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher.

“Both Afghanistan and Pakistan … have policies on reconciliation.  We have been and continue to be willing to support those policies,” Boucher told the BBC World Service on October 30.  “This is something for local people to decide who they can reconcile with and how they do that.”

Boucher, who serves as the State Department’s assistant secretary for South Asian affairs, set the record straight amid recent speculation of a major U.S. policy shift in Afghanistan based on reports of a White House–level strategic review of Afghan operations.  The review is being overseen by the top White House military adviser, Army Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters October 28.  It is aimed at helping reverse a rising tide of terrorist violence committed by Taliban-linked insurgents.

“The reason we do these periodic reviews is to make sure that we are doing everything, try to do better as well as do more,” Boucher said.  “We’re not talking about the U.S. talking to the Taliban.”

Meanwhile, governments in both Afghanistan and Pakistan have stepped up efforts to stop the violence, with support from Saudi Arabia, which has hosted talks among tribal leaders, including several figures linked to the Afghan insurgency, according to media reports.

Afghan and Pakistani officials joined tribal leaders in an October 27 “jirga,” or tribal council, where they agreed to reach out to militant elements that previously allied themselves with the Taliban but now may be willing to abandon violence, accept government authority and return to civilian life.  More than 30 former militants handed over their weapons to Afghan officials at a November 2 peace and reconciliation ceremony in Herat.

The U.S. commitment to political reconciliation has been further reinforced by recent comments from Army General David Petraeus, who helped Iraqi officials make major security gains as commander of U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq, and recently has been promoted to lead the U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“You have to talk to enemies,” Petraeus said in an October 9 speech at Washington’s Heritage Foundation, commenting on the now-famous “Anbar Awakening” — a key turning point in the Iraq conflict when Sunni tribal leaders joined forces to confront al-Qaida in Iraq in 2008. (See “Iraqis Reclaim Anbar Province, Says Bush.”)

Petraeus cautioned that it is unclear how many successful elements of the Iraq campaign could be transplanted to Afghanistan, but said that “if there are people who are willing to reconcile (with the Afghan government), then that would be a positive step in some of these areas.”

“The tribal situation in Afghanistan is much different than the tribes in Iraq.  It’s much more local,” agreed Boucher. He said a top priority for 2009 will be to continue helping connect Kabul more closely with provincial governments, allowing authorities to deliver essential services, improve the police force, redouble development progress and promote new economic opportunities nationwide. (See “International Community Investing in Afghanistan’s Future.”)

“What we do think is important in Afghanistan is to have a government, with our support, working with local communities and tribes,” Boucher said.  “Once you start getting the locals on your side then the enemy is more isolated. Then you use that process to extend it into areas where the enemy wants to … lay down their arms and make peace.”

A transcript of Boucher’s remarks is available from America.gov.