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Karzai’s olive branch to Mullah Omar!
AFGHAN President Hamid Karzai has apparently expressed his strong
desire to have peace talks with Taliban leader Mullah Omar even if it
meant displeasing the occupation forces. Talking to reporters in Kabul,
Karzai claimed that he would go to any length to protect the chief of
Taliban in exchange for peace.
One cannot say for sure whether the statement of the Afghan President
was a sincere offer aimed at restoration of much-needed peace to the
war-torn country or a mere PR gimmick. In the first instance, it is
questionable whether Mr Karzai, who himself is totally dependent on
American security, can offer protection to the leader of the resistance
movement, against whom the occupation forces are full of venom and
vengeance. Secondly, Mr Karzai is making the offer at a time when he is
seeking re-election and it is believed that the offer is just to enlist
support of the the Punkhtoon voters. But in any case, there can be no
peace in Afghanistan in the face of bombing and killing of the people
that triggers bomb blasts and suicide attacks not only against foreign
forces but also against the government targets. Taliban are part and
parcel of the Afghan nation and instead of targeting them for killing
efforts should be made to bring them back to the national mainstream.
Karzai and his other colleagues should, therefore, convince their
foreign masters that Afghanistan has had enough of war and destruction
and it is time that the outside world should provide substantial
assistance for rebuilding of the country. In the absence of economic
activities and job opportunities, Afghans have no option but to join
hands with militants who have the means to take care of their needs.
Similarly, the Afghan President should also initiate talks with the
foreign forces urging them to draw a timetable for a pull-out of troops,
as this will have a salutary effect on the overall situation.
