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US hints to open talks with Haqqanis

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Oct 13, IRNA -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that US is open to sign peace deal with all groups in Afghanistan including the Haqqani network, a media report said on Wednesday.

Daily Express Tribune reported that Clinton has said, “where we are right now is that we view the Haqqanis and other of their ilk as, you know, being adversaries and being very dangerous to Americans, Afghans and coalition members inside Afghanistan, but we are not shutting the door on trying to determine whether there is some path forward”.

The White House has recently backed away from allegations from Admiral Mike Mullen, that Pakistani intelligence supported the Haqqani network in an attack on US embassy in Kabul.

President Barack Obama and other American officials have put Pakistan on notice that it must take action against militants or risk a key relationship.

According to media reports, US officials have held meetings with Haqqani network representatives as part of their efforts.

The reconciliation has become a more prominent feature of Obama’s Afghan strategy even as US and NATO soldiers continued to battle the Taliban and Haqqani militants in Afghanistan’s volatile south and east.

Hillary Clinton however made it clear that the United States would stick to its military campaign.

“Now, it is also true that we are still trying to kill and capture or neutralize them (the Haqqani network),” Clinton said. “And they are still trying to, you know, kill as many Americans, Afghans and coalition members as they can.”

It is unclear how quickly a peace deal could be, as it remains unclear how military commanders can achieve and defend security improvements as the foreign force in Afghanistan gradually grows smaller.

“It’s always difficult in this stage of a conflict, as you think through what is the resolution you are seeking and how do you best obtain it, to really know where you’ll be in two months, four months, six months,” Clinton said.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30609618