Wednesday, August 30, 2017

There are conflicting reports about the peace talks in Afghanistan.

Talks probably exist at lower levels of diplomatic engagement. I doubt the top leadership knows much about it yet, if at all. These demands show a Taliban that is eons different than the ones that provided a home to al Qaeda.

There is higher regard for women. The issues over land can be investigated and found to be true or false. It is a bit of good news to realize the warlords have turned legitimate so long as corruption wasn't brought with them. It is not unusual for a country so entrenched in war for so long (previous to al Qaeda's attack on the USA) to have different camps that have to find representation in a central government. If that is what has and is occurring, it could be the Taliban is the last of the tribes of Afghanistan to find their way into government representation.

August 30, 2017
By Kathy Gannon


— They accepted education for boys and girls at all levels, but wanted segregation by gender.

— Women could be employed in all fields, including defense and the judiciary, and they could serve as judges at all levels except the Supreme Court. However, the Taliban wanted constitutional guarantees that a woman could not be president.

— Special courts should be established to oversee thousands of cases that allege land was taken illegally by the rich and powerful in the post-Taliban era. Many of the land owners are former warlords who are now in the government. The Taliban wants the land returned to those from whom it was taken.

— Elections could be held after an interim government is established, with no one affiliated with past governments allowed to serve in the interim administration. The Taliban said all sides could keep areas currently under their control until voting is held....

It has been the view of the Afghan people the government first established by the USA was corrupt. The Afghan people are being careful to their elected officials. They don't want the return of corruption to their government. 

I think the land issue has to be evaluated as well as investigated. Land should be used for homes for the people and used in the best interest of the people to bring them a functional central treasury. I think the land can fall back into the wrong hands for adverse use. That is where the central government has the interest to stabilize the country in its land use and homes for the people.

If the Taliban are to be returned to a governing interest in Afghanistan they have to prove they intend to be peaceful people. The Taliban needs to account for attacks on the people and their banks. The Taliban has to be willing to arrest the criminal element among them and submit them to trial.

I consider this good news. I think there is some ground to cover yet, but, it is encouraging. Women are very capable of providing a brain trust to Afghanistan and that should not be overlooked, prejudiced or oppressed.