Nato's top commander in Afghanistan has said increased troop levels could bring a negotiated peace with the Taliban.

US Gen Stanley McChrystal told the UK's Financial Times newspaper that there had been "enough fighting".

He said a political solution in all conflicts was "inevitable". His remarks came as the top UN envoy in Kabul said it was time to talk to the militants.

Afghan and Pakistani leaders are in Turkey to discuss tackling the Taliban-led insurgency in their countries.

This is the fourth such meeting initiated by Turkey, which has offered to broker talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

Both Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari, will attend an international conference on Afghanistan in London on Thursday.

'Focus on the future'

"I'd like everybody to walk out of London with a renewed commitment, and that commitment is to the right outcome for the Afghan people," Gen McChrystal told the Financial Times.

He said the arrival of the extra 30,000 US troops pledged by President Obama and the additional 7,000 troops promised by other Nato countries should deliver "very demonstrably positive" progress in 2010.

But he warned that the level of Taliban violence could increase sharply this year.

The Taliban wanted to create the perception that Afghanistan was on fire, and that President Karzai and his Western allies could not cope, Gen McChrystal said.

However, if the new US-led strategy was successful, the militants "could look desperate" in a year's time, he said.

"I think they will look like an entity that will be struggling for its own legitimacy... I think they will be on the defensive militarily, not wiped out."

On the issue of reconciliation, Gen McChrystal said: "I believe that a political solution to all conflicts is the inevitable outcome. And it's the right outcome."

Asked if he thought senior Taliban could have a role in a future Afghan government, he said: "I think any Afghans can play a role if they focus on the future, and not the past.

"As a soldier, my personal feeling is that there's been enough fighting," Gen McChrystal added.

'Time has come'

In an interview with the New York Times, United Nations special representative Kai Eide called for some senior Taliban leaders to be removed from a UN list of terrorists, as a prelude to direct talks.

"If you want relevant results, then you have to talk to the relevant person in authority," Mr Eide said. "I think the time has come to do it."

President Karzai recently told the BBC that he planned to introduce a scheme to attract Taliban fighters back to normal life by offering money and jobs.

He said he would offer to pay and resettle Taliban fighters to come over to his side.

Mr Karzai said he hoped to win backing for his plan from the US and UK at the London conference.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8478076.stm

sounds like desperation

what ever happend to no dialogue with "terrorists"?? Looks like people will never learn

I don't understand why they couldn't think of friendship with Taliban earlier? It's little too late considering how many people have been killed in Pakistan, Afganistan and Iraq. These issues have generated so much hate during the past year. No one can undo the damage.

May Allah help us, guide us, and bless us all. To Allah belongs all praise.

Afghanistan was the final nail in Russia's coffin and soon to be the final nail in the U.S coffin...

you should never bring amateurs to take on age old stoics...
and now a dialogue? funny stuff..

after all the money they wasted and the soldiers they allowed to be annhialated its pointing towards a certain direction . . . The imminent end of once upon a time superpower

mark my words

Originally Posted by Gossamer skye

Afghanistan was the final nail in Russia's coffin and soon to be the final nail in the U.S coffin...

you should never bring amateurs to take on age old stoics...
and now a dialogue? funny stuff..

True that, but hopefully Afghanistan will not return to Taliban regime and some sort of middle route should be established but that's hopeful thinking lol

Originally Posted by abu salaahudeen

after all the money they wasted and the soldiers they allowed to be annhialated its pointing towards a certain direction . . . The imminent end of once upon a time superpower

mark my words

Hardly. Afghanistan was, and is, a pinprick prepared with both resources committed to and lives lost in Vietnam and the US was still a superpower after that.

However, a negotiated peace is always a good idea. As long as that peace is what the what vast majority of Afghans want, or at least can support. In all honesty I see the Taliban being far more reluctant to accept such a deal than the Americans or current Afghan government. If the Americans left tomorrow the Taliban would just seek to take power again, against the wishes of the majority, in the way they did before - violence and intimidation.

Originally Posted by Trumble

Hardly. Afghanistan was, and is, a pinprick prepared with both resources committed to and lives lost in Vietnam and the US was still a superpower after that.

However, a negotiated peace is always a good idea. As long as that peace is what the what vast majority of Afghans want, or at least can support. In all honesty I see the Taliban being far more reluctant to accept such a deal than the Americans or current Afghan government. If the Americans left tomorrow the Taliban would just seek to take power again, against the wishes of the majority, in the way they did before - violence and intimidation.

I agree with this. The 'good' Taliban, the ones who are fighting just to keep bread on the table, need to be seperated from the 'bad' Taliban, the leaders who advocate torture, murder, terrorism and the like. I also agree that Afghanistan is hardly comparable to Vietnam. It's a worm when compared to the elephant of Vietnam, and the US remained a superpower after 'Nam, despite losing it. It's just a distant war, hardly on the forefront of the agenda of the majority of Americans, partly down to the low US casualty toll and partly down to the lack of care Americans have towards a distant land controlled by nomadic tribes and religious fundamentalists.

I don't understand why they couldn't think of friendship with Taliban earlier? It's little too late considering how many people have been killed in Pakistan, Afganistan and Iraq. These issues have generated so much hate during the past year. No one can undo the damage.

There have been overtures earlier. Realize, though, that the Taliban's main interest is not the welfare of the people, but gaining power. If the Taliban was given the option of having a happy population that voted on their government or having the Taliban in power with no guarantee of happiness I have no doubt they would choose the latter. The US, on the other hand, does not want to run the country. They want to stabilize it and get the hell out.

The Taliban does not want stability. Stability right now would be detrimental to them gaining power. That is why they continue to kill the citizens of Afghanistan in droves (around 1600 last year).

after all the money they wasted and the soldiers they allowed to be annhialated its pointing towards a certain direction . . . The imminent end of once upon a time superpower

Wishful thinking.

The only thing that will end the US being a superpower is the rise of another superpower. The next likely candidate is China.

You look forward to that one?

Originally Posted by Supreme

I agree with this. The 'good' Taliban, the ones who are fighting just to keep bread on the table, need to be seperated from the 'bad' Taliban, the leaders who advocate torture, murder, terrorism and the like. I also agree that Afghanistan is hardly comparable to Vietnam. It's a worm when compared to the elephant of Vietnam, and the US remained a superpower after 'Nam, despite losing it. It's just a distant war, hardly on the forefront of the agenda of the majority of Americans, partly down to the low US casualty toll and partly down to the lack of care Americans have towards a distant land controlled by nomadic tribes and religious fundamentalists.

and what of those who are fighting because their nation has been attacked by a bunch of invaders?

which category do they fall in to?

Soooooo......are you all in support of the Taliban??

The Taliban should be either closed down and or disbanded and restarted with only the true souldiers, fighting only for the good of Afghanistan.

Leaving the Taliban under it's own corupt rule will only hurt the people of Afghanistan. There is too much corruption in the Taliban. Not to say that any government isn't corrupt in some way.

The taliban isn't going anywhere..
I am telling you there is something the 'great superpowers' discount when engaging in these futile battles whatever their purpose maybe and we all know it isn't for the good of mankind but to disband whatever is left of a strong Muslims hold, you maybe able to sway a few of worldly riches or phony slogans of freedom and progress and naked women or mislead a few others, but there will ALWAYS be those who hold on to the true sunnah and you can't extirpate what is from the hearts of true Muslims, with worldly lure.. We all know we have two lots.. those of us who beautify one lot will hate the second.. but those of us who are good at math know not that even a hundred years denotes anything in the face of eternity. Religion isn't a relic to be visited on a sunday or saturday .. it is a life time preparation for the lot to come..

it is good to take notice if you value this life, that to others this is no more than the wing of a fly, and you can't take or offer much to folks who have no use for material goods!

Originally Posted by Gossamer skye

The taliban isn't going anywhere..
I am telling you there is something the 'great superpowers' discount when engaging in these futile battles whatever their purpose maybe and we all know it isn't for the good of mankind but to disband whatever is left of a strong Muslims hold, you maybe able to sway a few of worldly riches or phony slogans of freedom and progress and naked women or mislead a few others, but there will ALWAYS be those who hold on to the true sunnah and you can't extirpate what is from the hearts of true Muslims, with worldly lure.. We all know we have two lots.. those of us who beautify one lot will hate the second.. but those of us who are good at math know not that even a hundred years denotes anything in the face of eternity. Religion isn't a relic to be visited on a sunday or saturday .. it is a life time preparation for the lot to come..

it is good to take notice if you value this life, that to others this is no more than the wing of a fly, and you can't take or offer much to folks who have no use for material goods!

You refferenced he 2 lots. Can you explain? Just wondering.

So you support a good Taliban, or all? From what i was told, the Taliban started as a good freedom fighting orginization, funded by the US? I forgot what Taliban stands for....I think ....students, or freedom fighters? not sure.

Peace and blessings.

P.s. I like your last qoute.

Originally Posted by Italianguy

You refferenced he 2 lots. Can you explain? Just wondering.
.

two lots meaning this house (world) and the eternal house (hereafter).. if you beautify one and neglect the other, obviously you won't want to move there when seasons change!

all the best

Originally Posted by Gossamer skye

two lots meaning this house (world) and the eternal house (hereafter).. if you beautify one and neglect the other, obviously you won't want to move there when seasons change!

all the best

Ok thanks. Very well put.

Peace and blessings.