No contact with Taliban since 2012: US envoy

KABUL since March 2012 when its last reconciliation initiative fizzled out, a top US diplomat said.

After a flurry of meetings with Pakistani officials in Islamabad, the US special representative for Afghanis­tan and Pakistan said late on Tuesday: “We have had no meeting with the Taliban since March 2012.

Daniel Feldman told reporters at the US Embassy that Washington, if asked, would help the new Afghan administration’s reconciliation effort. “Otherwise, the unity government can adopt its own mechanism.”

The change in Afghan government represented a remarkably unique opportunity for regional stability, the Pakistani newspaper Dawn quoted the envoy as saying. He urged Kabul, Islamabad and other stakeholders to seize the chance.

He stressed eradicating terrorist safe havens on both sides of the Durand Line.

Feldman hailed Pakistan Army’s offensive in North Waziristan for eliminating terrorists without any distinction. “It is in the process of being done and more has to be done.”

He held meetings with Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, army chief General Raheel Sharif and others. He explained the US was not going to leave Afghanistan and would only stop its combat operations.

“It is a misconception that we will not be there. We will be there in significant numbers. The combat operations will stop. International community’s assistance and commitment will continue for a long term in Afghanistan” he said.

PAN Monitor/mud

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