Gates says Taliban part of Afghan 'political fabric' - Karzai unveils insurgent reconciliation plan

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"The Taliban, we recognize, are part of the political fabric of Afghanistan at this point," Gates told AFP. "The question is whether they are prepared to play a legitimate role in the political fabric of Afghanistan going forward, meaning participating in elections, meaning not assassinating local officials and killing families."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34995797/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/


KABUL, January 22, 2010 (AFP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai unveiled an ambitious Western-funded plan Friday to offer money and jobs to tempt Taliban fighters to lay down their arms in an effort to quell a crippling insurgency.

His comments to the BBC came as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates described the Taliban as part of Afghanistan's "political fabric", but said any future role would depend on insurgents laying down their weapons.

"We know as the Afghan people we must have peace at any cost," Karzai said in the television interview aired Friday ahead of an international conference on Afghanistan in London next week, where he will present the plan.

"Those that we approach to return will be provided with the abilities to work, to find jobs, to have protection, to resettle in their own communities."

The Taliban gives its foot-soldiers higher salaries than the Afghan government can afford to pay its forces, and the president said his project would have international backing to provide the necessary funds.

http://www.laredosun.us/notas.asp?id=3218