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October 29, 2008

Pakistan, Afghanistan OK Taliban Talks
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Pakistani and Afghan leaders have announced plans to hold talks with
resistance groups, including the Taliban. The decision came out of a
two-day council known as a ‘jirga’ attended by tribal leaders. Former
Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah announced the move.

Abdullah Abdullah: “We agreed that contacts should established with the
opposition in both sides, joint contacts through Jirgagai. Apart from
whatever else is happening in that regard, joint contacts will be
established by the—through Jirgagai by using other influential figures
to the opposition groups in both countries.”

The decision comes as US military commanders have reportedly asked for
another 20,000 troops in Afghanistan. Some 4,000 troops are expected to
arrive by January. But the Washington Post reports military commanders
now want another 10,000 “support troops” on top of the additional 12,000
that has yet to be approved.



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