[R-G] Saudi Hosts Talks between Taliban and Karzai Govenment

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

<http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/05/afghan.saudi.talks/index.html>
Source: Saudi hosts Afghan peace talks with Taliban reps

    * Story Highlights
    * King Abdullah hosted talks in city of Mecca at end of September,
source says
    * Saudi Arabia has generally dealt with Afghanistan through Pakistan
    * Talks are the first aimed at bringing a negotiated settlement to
the Afghan conflict
    * All parties agreed only solution to Afghan conflict is dialogue,
not fighting

By Nic Robertson
CNN Senior International Correspondent

LONDON, England (CNN) -- In a groundbreaking meeting, King Abdullah of
Saudi Arabia recently hosted talks between the Afghan government and
the Taliban militant group, according to a source familiar with the
talks.

The historic four-day meeting took place during the last week of
September in the Saudi city of Mecca, according to the source, who
spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the
negotiations.

King Abdullah broke fast during the Eid al-Fitr holiday with the
17-member Afghan delegation -- an act intended to show his commitment
to ending the conflict.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of
fasting. Learn more about Ramadan »

Taliban leader Mullah Omar was not present, the source said.

It marks a significant departure by the Saudi leadership to take a
direct role in Afghanistan, hosting some delegates who have until
recently been their enemies.

In the past, Saudi Arabia has generally dealt with Afghanistan through
Pakistan.

The desert kingdom's current foray marks a significant shift and
appears to recognize the political weakness of Pakistan and the need
to stem the growth of al Qaeda.

The current round of talks is anticipated to be a first step in a long
process. According to the source close to the talks, it has taken two
years of behind-the-scenes meetings to get to this point.

The talks took place between September 24 and 27 and involved 11
Taliban delegates, two Afghan government officials, a representative
of former mujahadeen commander and U.S. foe Gulbadin Hekmatyar, and
three others.

It was the first such meeting aimed at bringing a negotiated
settlement to the Afghan conflict and for the first time, all parties
were able to discuss their positions and objectives openly and
transparently, the source said.

Saudi Arabia was one of only three countries that recognized the
Taliban leadership during its rule over Afghanistan in the 1990s, but
that relationship was severed over Mullah Omar's refusal to hand over
al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

While Mullah Omar was not present at the talks in Mecca, the source
said the Taliban leader has made it clear he is no longer allied with
al Qaeda -- a position that has never been publicly stated but emerged
at the talks.

It confirms what another source with an intimate knowledge of the
Taliban and Mullah Omar has told CNN in the past.

During the talks, all parties agreed that the only solution to
Afghanistan's conflict is through dialogue, not fighting. The source
described the Mecca talks as an ice-breaking meeting where
expectations were kept necessarily low.

Further talks are expected in Saudi Arabia involving this core group and others.

The reasons for Saudi Arabia's involvement are numerous, including
having the trust of the United States and Europe to play a positive
role at a time when the conflict appears to be worsening and the
coalition's casualty toll is climbing.

Also, Saudi Arabia may fear that Iran could take advantage of U.S.
failings in Afghanistan, as it is seen to be doing in Iraq.

Several Afghan sources familiar with Iranian activities in Afghanistan
have said Iranian officials and diplomats who are investing in
business and building education facilities are lobbying politicians in
Kabul.

The Afghan sources wish to remain anonymous due to their political roles.

Coalition commanders regularly accuse Iran of arming the Taliban, and
Western diplomats privately suggest that Iran is working against U.S.
interests in Afghanistan, making it harder to bring peace.

Saudi sources say perceived Iranian expansionism is one of Saudi
Arabia's biggest concerns.