Afghanistan/US

Karzai welcomes Obama hint of talks with Taliban

Article published on the 2009-03-08 Latest update 2009-03-08 14:36 TU

Karzai speaks to a meeting to mark International Women's Day
(Photo: Reuters)

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has welcomed US President Barack Obama's suggestion that there could be discussion with so-called "moderate" Taliban. Speaking to a rally to mark International Women's Day, Karzai said Obama's statement was good news and hailed it as support for a position held by the Afghan government for some time.

In an interview with the New York Times, Obama said that "success in Iraq involved reaching out to people that we would consider to be Islamic fundamentalists" and that the possibility of breaking some elements away from the Taliban "should be explored".

But, he added, that the situation in Afghanistan is much more complex than that in Iraq.

Obama also told the paper that the US is not winning the conflict in Afghanistan, where he plans to send more troops later this year.

Speaking in Kabul, Karzai welcomed Obama's words as support for his own proposal to talk to some Taliban.

"Only those who have left their homes and are fighting their country because they are forced to, or are scared or for other reasons, they are welcome," he said.

Following his acceptance Saturday of the Election Commission's ruling that he should not hold the next presidential election in April, Karzai said that he might stay on as President until the poll is to be held in August.

But, he said, he would not take the decision himself and would hope for a decision by the Supreme Court or a Loya Jirga, the traditional assembly of tribal chiefs and influential figures.