Karzai to Taliban: Lay Down Your Weapons

(CBS/ AP)  Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on the Taliban and other extremist groups Friday to lay down their weapons and participate in rebuilding the battered country, as part of reconciliation efforts he has said will be his main objective during his second term.

Karzai's appeal, made in a message marking the major Muslim holiday of Eid, came two days after the reclusive Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, issued a statement ruling out talks with the president and calling on Afghans to break off relations with his "stooge" administration.

The hard-line militia has long refused to negotiate with Karzai's government or join what it considers a puppet administration.

"From the Taliban, from Hezb-e-Islami and all our other brothers who stand armed against their country, I hope that for the peace, stability and development of their country, they come back to their homeland, their families," Karzai said. Hezb-e-Islami is a militant Islamic faction led by warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan

Asked about Omar's message, which was posted on a Web site used by the Taliban on Wednesday, Karzai reiterated a commitment to talks.

"We will continue to invite them until peace and stability come to this country," he said.

The United States has said in the past while hard-line Taliban fighters must be defeated, there should be a reconciliation process for those who renounce violence.

"There is an uncompromising core of the Taliban. They must be met with force, and they must be defeated," President Barack Obama said in a speech in March. "But there are also those who've taken up arms because of coercion, or simply for a price. These Afghans must have the option to choose a different course."

The need for talks with the militant group is recognized across the international community, but the conditions attached to such proposals - and the timing of any negotiations - are an issue of contention.

In August, the top United Nations official in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, called for talks with Taliban leaders.

"If you want relevant results, you have to talk to those who are relevant. If you want important results, you have to talk to those who are important," he said.

The previous month, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband had called for talks with regular Taliban fighters, saying while hard-line fundamentalist commanders must be pursued, ordinary rank-and-file Taliban should be given the opportunity "to leave the path of confrontation with the government."

In his Eid message, Karzai reiterated a call to his main rival during the fraud-marred presidential election, Abdullah Abdullah, to join in helping the country - although he stopped short of inviting him into the government.

Abdullah, who served for several years as foreign minister in Karzai's government, pulled out of an election runoff scheduled for earlier this month, saying it was impossible to guarantee a free and fair vote.

Karzai's appeal echoed comments in his inauguration speech last week, when he also reached out to Abdullah.

But speaking after the inauguration speech, Abdullah had accused Karzai's administration of creating problems for the country.

"His record and policies I consider as the basic and fundamental reason for the failures of the international community and Afghanistan together," Abdullah told the AP. "So for me it's those agendas for change which are important rather than my having posts in the Cabinet, that has never been my agenda."

Despite calls for reconciliation, violence continues unabated, particularly in the east and south of the country.

In the volatile southern province of Kandahar, the provincial governor survived an assassination attempt Friday when a remote-controlled roadside bomb exploded as his convoy drove past on the way to a mosque for prayers to mark Eid, his spokesman said.

The blast damaged Turyalai Wesa's car but the governor was unhurt, said spokesman Zelmai Ayubi, adding one policeman was wounded.

Kandahar is expected to be a focus of the additional buildup of tens of thousands of troops that Obama is expected to order for Afghanistan.

[wdh3007]

Karzai to Taliban lay down your weapons and your opium maybe they will try passing out koran's or perhaps pay them to stop being terrorists yeah that will work?

[SocietysNightmare]

Karzai to Taliban: Lay Down Your Weapons


What a joke! The TALIBAN will probably have this etched into his tombstone once the US withdraws it troops. That's after they asphyxiate him with his own genitalia.

[mcapek]

So why are we not spraying with lethal herbicide all their poppy crops? That would put a dent to their money line. Assuming that poppy plants were not destroyed outright, what Darwing deficient idiot would consume heroin tainted with poison?

[SocietysNightmare]

Because it would put a "DENT" in the CIA's money too. Not to mention many pharmaceutical companies.

[mcapek]

You have a proof of CIA having to depend on drug money for their operation, or are just being cynical? And exactly which pharmaceutical companies are importing poppy from Afghanistan to make morphine? That should be a matter of public record..

[jgg000015]

Taliban to Karzai:
"Hahahaha, you make me tinkle in my tunic".

[gilmomuff]

How do you translate this joke in Afghanistan ?

Might be just about as funny !

[vuenbelvue]

Karzai could be saying "Lay down your weapons. Taliban. The USA wants to fund building our Islamic nation's infrasturture to maybe the tune of $1 trillion US". Then, "Give it up, Homeboys, Allah will be happy that we refused to negoiate and have them by the gonads".
Jeff Bridges for President in 2112.

[all_father]

World to Karzai: You're a liar, a thief, and a corrupt stooge. Abandon your ill-gotten office.

Yeah, let's see how well that works.

One can only wonder how the American government can hope to end the Taliban (and al Qaeda) while continuing to support a guy like Karzai.

[lmartink]

Hah! Karzai should have said, "Lay down your weapons, or my corrupt crime syndicate cronies will stop funding you!".

I'm sure the Taliban are shaking in their boots as they drive to purchase more weapons.

[JJHH3000]

I'm sure the Taliban will take him up on it and they and Al-Qaeda wouldn't dream of trying to infiltrate the U.S. under the shadow of our immigration programs. That way, the violence and Afghanistan will be visited upon the U.S.

This is what mass immigration leads to. Stop giving the supporters of mass immigration the benefit of the doubt and agreeing to see them as high-minded kind-hearted people. They are not.

They are willfully ignorant, insanely irresponsible people who want to condemn our children and grandchildren to a life of violence, terror, poverty and all the other hallmarks of 3rd world life, not to mention Shariah law. This who would do this to our future generations are criminals and nothing more.

[ghomes1]

What's wrong with Shariah Law? Have you ever read up on Talmudic Law (Jewish Law/Christian Law)? Shariah Law is actually more just if you compare the two.

BTW the Taliban doesn't follow Shariah Law, they just claim too. Shariah Law actually takes many years to study..Kinda like Law School.

[vuenbelvue]

The good thing about Sharia law is that you can change it to fit your mood. If you are told the guilty party is not suupose to be punished much you just change the words and everything will be ok. Or if you are a tuff cleric who needs to do something really tuff to be able to control the people in his cult you just change the meaning and there you are the Master of your Universe. It works amongst all the Islamic nations and is fool proof.

[ghomes1]

How about spending some of those dollars appropriated for the war on health care? Why are we fighting a war with people who don't even want us there to begin with? Democracy cannot be forced on people, hasn't history taught us anything?