Afghan President Seeks Saudi Help for Taliban Peace Talks
VOA News 02 February 2010
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has arrived in Saudi Arabia to ask Saudi King Abdullah for help in reaching out to the Taliban.
Mr. Karzai is expected to discuss his reconciliation plan for persuading Taliban militants to switch sides, with the Saudi King during talks on Wednesday.
Upon his arrival Tuesday, the Afghan leader and his delegation traveled to the holy city of Mecca to perform a pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia was one of the few countries that recognized the Taliban regime in Afghanistan before it was ousted in 2001.
However, Saudi officials say they have no intention of getting involved in peacemaking in Afghanistan unless the Taliban sever ties with Saudi-born al- Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
President Karzai has said Saudi Arabia's role is extremely important for Afghanistan, and he called on Saudi Arabia for help last week while speaking at an international conference in London.
Mr. Karzai has also said he plans to summon a "loya jirga," or grand council of elders, in the coming weeks as part of a push to reconcile with the Taliban and other insurgents.
Meanwhile Tuesday, gunmen on a motorcycle shot and killed two men in southern Kandahar province. The men are related to a local tribal leader and close acquaintances of the president and his brother.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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