The fugitive Taliban chief, whose name is among the wanted men by the United States, in the formula warned to intensify attacks on foreign troops if the White House sends additional troops to Afghanistan.
(SALEM, Ore.) - In case you don't know, the Taliban in Afghanistan is frequently in contact with the world's richest nations. This group many Americans view as a rag tag band of militants, are taken seriously in international circles.
They send out news releases, and are viewed as a serious adversary in nations like Great Britain where Taliban leaders express their views and demands in news reports.
The latest news is that the Taliban chief has proposed a formula to end crisis in Afghanistan.
China's Xinhua news agency reports that the Taliban's elusive leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, forwarded a formula to end conflicts and bring about peace in his war-torn country.
The Iranian television channel Press TV reported that, "Mullah Omar delivered his plan through Saudi Arabia King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz."
The adamant Taliban chief reportedly stressed a plan for a timetable that would lead to the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.
"Peacekeeping troops from Muslim countries should replace the NATO and U.S. troops to ensure a smooth transition until the Afghans can reach a consensus government," Omar insisted in the formula, according to Xinhua.
Mullah Omar's other demand is about sharing power with the current Afghan regime.
Omar demanded the consolidation of the Taliban fighters into the Afghan army and amnesty for them.
Omar, out of public view since being ousting from power by U.S.-led troops in late 2001, previously conditioned any talks with President Hamid Karzai's government with the pullout of more than 70,000-strong international forces from Afghanistan.
Three months ago, with mediation of Saudi Arabian Kingdom, a meeting was held between Taliban and pro-government figures including some Afghan parliamentarians in Riyadh.
Afghanistan President Karzai reportedly appreciated the talks, and called on Saudi Arabia's leader to play a role in strengthening security in Afghanistan.
Still, the fugitive Taliban chief, whose name is among the wanted men by the United States, in the formula warned to intensify attacks on foreign troops if the White House sends additional troops to Afghanistan.
In many parts of Afghanistan, the Taliban continues to control both territory and the sentiments of people.
The incoming Barack Obama administration will inherit what many consider to be an urgent crisis in Afghanistan. Many believe the U.S. and NATO must increase troop levels there while enlarging the Afghan army.
In reality, the Afghan Army is extremely underpaid and has a high rate of attrition. Many former ANA soldiers join the Taliban and other anti-Coalition militias.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor.Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 in Afghanistan with Oregon troops. Tim recently returned from Iraq where he covered the war there while embedded with an Oregon Guard aviation unit. Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website, affiliated with Google News and several other major search engines and news aggregators.You can send Tim an email at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com
Taliban Proposes Formula to End Crisis in AfghanistanSalem-News.com