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Pakistan's chief military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas has been quoted by CNN in an interview as saying that the military is still in contact with Taliban commanders like Mullah Omar, Jalalladin Haqqani, Mullah Nazir and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar of the Hizb-e-Islami.
Within hours of CNN airing the report on Friday, the Inter-Services Public Relations issued a denial, saying the remarks attributed to Abbas were "totally baseless, fabricated and unfounded as well as out of context".
"No intelligence organisation in the world shuts its last door on any other organisation. So therefore, the contacts are there. The communication remains," CNN quoted Abbas as saying in the interview.
Abbas said in return for any role as a broker between the US and the Taliban, Pakistan wants concessions from Washington over Islamabad's concerns with long-time rival India, the channel reported.
It claimed that senior US officials had told the channel that President Barack Obama's administration is "willing both to talk to top Taliban leaders and to raise some of Pakistan's concerns with India".
Asked if the US can talk to the militant groups in Afghanistan, Abbas said, "There are reconcilable elements...in these Taliban groups...and one has to identify those." He said there was no harm in opening negotiations with them.
In reply to another question on whether Pakistan could provide assistance to a US mission for dialogue, he replied:"I think yes that can be worked out, that's possible."
"The ISI was in the forefront of the whole struggle against the Soviets. Now, by maintaining the contacts with the organisations like (Mullah Omar's Taliban and Hekmatyar) doesn't mean that that state policy is (to be) providing themphysical support or the funding or training," Abbas said.
"What we see as a concern is an over-involvement of Indians in Afghanistan that becomes a concern – particularly if one is watching the security calculus in that," he said.
"The fear is, tomorrow what happens if these Americansmove out and they are replaced by Indians as military trainers? That becomes a serious concern. So these kind of apprehensions are there, and they are talked about and they are consulted," Abbas said.
He said Pakistan has been informing the US-led coalition countries about its concerns. "They have to have a line because if [it] goes beyond them, beyond the line then of course the situation would take an ugly turn," he warned.
After the 9/11 attacks, Pakistani policy to support the militant groups did a "U-turn", he said. "And the state followed, the army followed, the ISI followed."
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I was surprised to see an interviews aired by CNN in their program “Dialogue with Taliban” on 10 July, 09 and later their transcript of the same program. Whatever was said by Michael Ware has been written under Abbas, Pak Army spokesman. Same is being quoted by other news sources and columnists i.e Washington Post and Kuldip Nayar etc. The question is who will guard the ethics of Journalism?Listen the interview and read following misquoted lines of transcript, where Michael Ware said and attributed to Abbas:“When historically you sit back and you look…………….And how does that make Pakistan's situation more precarious?”
Both are 'twin brothers',perhaps conjoint twins,who need to be surgically separated. So that Osama Bin Laden could be brought to justice for killing millions and mastermineding Mumbai Torture. Pakistan would serve the world peace well,by facillitating arrest of Osama Bin Laden or his extinction in a battle with the Allied offensives in Afghanistan. The posturing of Pakistan as a peace maker reeks of ulterior motives in preserving Taliban movement.Which has now served it pupose of ousting the Soviets from Afghanistan. Existence of Taliban in Pakistan is unhealthy and dangerous as Pakistan knows well Taliban subversion in Democratic secular institutions has undermined progress in Pakistan.
Talk! Why?!
Recently the US tripled it's financial help to Pakistan to fight terrorism. Look what it is talking now!!!!!!!!!!!It is sheer opportunistic, cunning nature to extract money from other countries for not doing anything. The whole world knows that the Pak army is in close contact with the Al Qaida group... and this statement confirms that. Or whether the US and Pak armies are looking for a face saving exit a la Vietnam?
When will the US ever see Pakistan in its real perspective .The Republicans of course turned a blind eye to any wrong doings of Pakistan. Obama gave an impression that he is out to chasten errant Pakistan . Somethings will never change . It speaks for Pak's foreign policy that the US establishment, be it Bush or Obama, that they put so much faith in a failed state, repeatedly , licensing it to continue with terrorism as its state policy. As long as US is assured of home security by Pakistan's establishment, they are least concerned if it continues nurturing Taliban or terror outfits against India or Afghanistan.
It needs to be understood that Taliban / LeT are not independent organizations. They are the extensions of the Pak Army. The current so-called anti-Taliban operations are in effect two sided exercises by Pak Army. With own troops on both sides, there can only be fictitious casualties. That is why casualties of Taliban are never shown to impartial media. It has allowed Pak Army to get USA to respond in the acceptable manner. They will continue to milk America, till Americans realize that their Senators like Kerry represent Pak interests and not the interests of Americans.
This is transformation of a terrorist state into an extortionist state.Now the middleman bares his face.Zardari said 2 days back Pakistan nurtured terrorism and now they want to mediate so that they can save Taleban from a complete rout and few years later than again they can start milking the civilized world ! The world is zeroing on and I hope they destroy and dismemeber this failed state being ruled by a rogue army.
Well, Pakistan has answers and solutions to almost every terror plot/act and is in touch with (own created) terror groups. To settle issue with India, it has to hold the world to ransom. This country has now openly declared itself a "Terrorist" nation. So that no one else needs to do that. And guess what, US has succumbed. Aid to the Terrorist nation.Well for India, solution is simple. Bring Pakistan to knees. All their nuclear power status is hoodwinking and another tool to terrorise the world.
We all saw what happened to the SWAT talks.
In most civilized countries blackmailers are convicted and sent to jail.Earlier US understands they are sinking citizen money down the drain.A day is not far when they are hit with some deadly weapon of PAK origin.
India had been helpless for a long time because of consistent denial by Pakis of having any relation with the terrorists. They have spent billions to train terrorists to spread all over Kashmir and the rest of India and Bangladesh. They are still doing it and denying it.The USA has been the biggest culprit of all by supporting Pakis with billion of dollars and turning a blind eye when India complained. It is time India woke up and gave Pakis and USA harsh respond so that Pakis will never forget. Regarding number of terrorists killed is all a white wash as most of the so called Taliban were warned before the assault. Only the innocent civilian suffered and they were made the scapgoat to fool the Americans for billion of dollars. It is still time for India to wake up and seal all the borders with Pakis, Nepal, Bangladesh and China.
well I was expecting this move to come sooner or later.Good Card and Americans need a accptable way to leave and then a govt. in afghanistan with all stackholders can help throw indians out of Afghanistan.Indians cant stop thier natural habit of stabing neighbours from the back no matter its Sri Lanka or Pakistan. Terrorism in the neighbouring countries is the Pandat Acharias old formula which is in enriched in the soul of every Hindu and Indian state. But Taliban card can help solving every issue. Americans can handle India til the new govt. established in Afghanistan and Pakistan can solve its internal issues with Talibans.
Exactly in the fashion that they brokered the Swat peace deal and the previous ceasefire agreements with the terrorists, in the teeth of world opposition! The results are for all to see, with Pakistan visibly disintegrating before our very eyes. Mullah Omar is now related by marriage to Bin Laden, and it would be most entertaining to see Obama-Clinton-Petraus deal with the inner circle of Al Qaeda, perpetrators of 9/11 on the says-so of the beleagured Paki military, no longer in a position to hunt with the foxes and run with the hares!!! The drones are screaming too close overhead now, and soon it will exposed before the world's saucer eyes what we knew all along, that the Al Qaeda is none other than the Paki Military! Also amusing that Hamid Gul, on the terrorist list of the US, will now broker the said peace with Mullah Omar!!! Shades of Kandahar! WOW
Hope our PM who is busy talking inane things to Pak and US realise that India is being taken for a ride by these countries for the last 50 years.all the threats issued by US against Pak is nothing but hogwash and now the truth has come out not about the Talibans being supported by Pak which even elementary school kids world over are aware of but that the US and the Taliban are planning for a tie up.The reason is obvious, give facesaving measure for US troops to leave Afghan and see that their interest world over isnt harmed,while Pak can ensure that it bleeds India day in and day out with the help of these US backed Pak trained Talibans.Wonder whether even God can save us while our great PM continues his love for US and talks shop with Pak without even remotely bothered about the countries future.Its time the youth galvanise and tell these leaders enuf is enuf else one can expect these Talibans at the doorsteps of each of our houses in few months time.Hope and pray it doesnt happen
What happened to the victorious announcements by the Pak Army, and echoed by the US media, of successes against the Taliban in their recent campaign? May be they are not that true. It is likely that the Taliban have not been vanquished. Instead, they have evaded the attacks and continued to challenge the Pakistanis. Maj. Gen. Abbas is looking for a respectable exit from this virtual defeat and hence the smokescreen of his offer to broker the US-Taliban talks. As has been Pakistan's habit, the General is trying to pull India into the picture for the benefit of local consumption. As a price for being the broker between the US and the Taliban, he wants the US to minimize India's role in Afghanisthan's development. The General may be clever but is certainly not smart enough. His scheme is obviously to beat a retreat and save his skin.The US has to be realistic enough to see the benefits of India's involvement in Afghan economic development and Pakistan's absence in this regard.
wow,wow,wow.here you are one terrorist can talk to another terrorist to help, this shows the true colours of Pakistan that they support terrorism to achieve their goals, and now after all the financial support that they got after fooling George Bush and Now Obama they are blackmailing to say that if you do this we will give you that I hope at least now the world understands Pakistans true commitment to fight terrorism.
IF U.S would have given attention to indian airliner being hijacked and taken to kandahar by the rogue pakistan army, ISI,taliban which are synonym for terrorism,and acted or taken some precaution for a possibility of a copy cat attack on U.S perhaps 9/11 would never have happened.it was the same people who hijacked the indian airliner to kandahar were later confirmed as planners of 9/11.pakistan is fundamentally a terrorist country and they wanted taliban rule in afganistan so that this pak army scoundrels can enjoy golf in and around ravalpindi and poor afgan civilians will suffer.india has given 1 billion in aid to our fagan brother and should send our soilders to kill the taliban.if OSAMA is in FATA according to U.S IT JUST IS NOT POSSIBLE that kayani wont be aware of it.they would have created a bunker for OSAMA under KAYANIS HOUSE or under PASHAS HOUSE.drone wont find OSAMA it will have to behouse to house search in metropolitan islamabad.never ever trust rogue,liers pakista army
The first step towards establishing a better security picture in India is to seal the borders with Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, etc. Maintain tight monitoring of coastal waters.Severely punish people perpetrating, aiding, abetting, and planning terror acts, including Naxals and Maoists who are home grown terrorists.Crack down on the underworld and the criminals in the Lok Sabha - 25% of the elected politicians are accused of serious crimes including rape and murder.Stop the black money in Swiss bank accounts which totals approximately USD $ 10 TRILLION - the most money of any country in the world.This money should be recovered and put to the following uses:a) public transit systems - subways, light rail, metrosb) education c) canals, irrigation, and water harvesting for agricultureGet rid of non-performing politicians eg. MAYAWATIThen my dear friends Bharat will be a land of justice, strength, happiness, and prosperity - inhabited by dignified people
Yes Major Gen Abbas, you can bring the Taliban to the negotiating table because they are your proteges. You train them, finance them, protect them and provide arms and military leadership to them. The idiot American Government provides you with over $2.5 billion a year a part of which is used by you to kill American young men and women.
To all my dear Indians here. What is wrong if Pakistan mediate between US and Taliban in Afghanistan. After all the Americans are already in talks with Taliban in Afghanistan. It has been said by NATO commanders as well as US that they are ready to talk to the Taliban. If they can talk to them why not Pakistan.The Americans are not as fool as you think. They know very well the importance of Pakistan. We are a direct party to this entire issue, we are directly affected by the terrorism.I wish if you have courage to mention that this monster was created by CIA too not only Pakistan.Anyway its a good start if US/NATO/Pakistan talk to Taliban and bring peace in Afghanistan.Regards Jana
Pakistan can mediate between America and Taliban, or between Taliban and the devil or between American and the ghost. However, Why inovlve India in this. Pakitan did not want any military involvment of India when America decided to invade. India is doing only humanitarian and develpomental work in Afghanistan. So, why does Pakistan even take the name of India at all Mr.Jana?
Though the State Policy of Pakistan, at least, in letter now, is to fight talibans or any other terrorist elements, but the rot is much more deeper. There are generals, politicians, bureaucrats and other influential persons in their establishment who still believes that these forces can be still used against India and are still maintaining contacts with them and are not able to take a clear stand against them. What they fail to appreciate that these non state actors now have the power to even devour pakistan. By, the time the reality beckons on them, it will be too late- for pakistan in specific and for the world in general. It is the right time for Pakistani Establishment to clearly weed out sympathisers of Taliban from among its own ranks before its too late.
Once again the USA is allowing itself to be jerked around by the despondent and reckless nation that we all call Pakistan. I ask why? Bartering Kashmir for peace in Afghanistan ? Who will buy such a propostorous Idea? Where in the World is India ? The leaders of Bharat should come out in open and say that it is the policy full of mischief and bull that no respectful nation can put up with it. You do not rebutt, the charge and the argument sticks. We the NRI frustatingly watch woefully inadequate and timid response from India. The media in India must invite an open forum discussions from their leaders and stop spending their time reporting on bolywood, cricket etc. Where the hell are Tharoor's, Shourie's and Sibal's ? An open editorial from such illuminaries in NY Times, Washington Post during these troubling times are highly desirable. The double (or triple) cross emanating from across the border must be exposed for what it is and about time.
Why should anyone talk to hoologans and thugs who unashemdly kill innocents and terrorise people and make stupid rules that excommunicates women from education and freedom of choice and expression and treats women like mere breeding bags? Only Pakistan can befriend them and nurture these scounderals and try and fool the US and the West like they have been doing for so many years! Dumb US!
YANKEES WILL REMAIN STUPID FOR LIFE LONG. PAKIS WILL REMAIN SHAITAN AND INDIANS WILL REMAIN COWARDS / SPINELESS/ FOOLISH FOR ENTIRE LIFE.
Apart from the criticism and harsh condemnation by US Law-Makers about this kind of statements/propaganda Pakistan continues with its cheap tactics to keep false ego.This kind of suggestions not only encourage and glorify Talibans/Terrorists but also drives Pak citizens against US and its policy/intention for that region.It inculcates antipathy and hate through which the on going war against terror will be much prolonged.Pakistan has no power to control these Talibans and other terrorists,infact Pak has surrendered to their will,and how shamelessly they are asking/suggesting USA,the greatest power on the earth,to talk with these elements!Can the US stoop so low to sit with these merciless killers and be laughed at by whole world around?No and never could be the right answer.Pakistani politicians and responsible persons must learn to talk less(no propaganda)and let USA act and do for Pak has already mortgaged its air-fields and even armed forces.