This story makes one wonder if Vice President Biden’s remark that “the Taliban is not our enemy” was really a gaffe after all. If “the opening of a Taliban office” in Afghanistan really is on the table, what role does the Obama Administration envision for this totalitarian, misogynist political force in the country after the United States withdraws its troops?
From PressTV, Iran’s state news service:
Former Taliban Deputy Defense Minister Mohammed Fazl
The United States is set to release several Taliban leaders from the Guantanamo Bay prison after Washington struck a deal with the militant group agreeing to their opening of an office in Qatar.
Former Taliban Interior Minister Mullah Khair Khowa and senior Taliban military commander Noorullah Noori are among the Taliban officials, The Guardian reported on Tuesday.
The US may release “high-risk detainee” and former Taliban Deputy Defense Minister Mohammed Fazl, held at Guantanamo since 2002, but hand him over to Qatar, the newspaper said.
Fazl was allegedly involved in the massacre of thousands of Afghan Shia Muslims between 1998 and 2001.
The report comes after the Taliban announced earlier on Tuesday that it would open a liaison office in Qatar to conduct negotiations with the “international community.”
“We have reached a preliminary understanding with relevant sides, including the government of Qatar, to have a political office for negotiations with the international community,” Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said.
According to the report, secret talks between American and Taliban officials over the opening of a Taliban office and the release of prisoners have been underway for more than a year in Germany and Qatar.
Read the rest of the story here.
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