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KABUL, Afghanistan — After years of deriding Afghanistan’s government and army as corrupt tools of Western occupiers, the Taliban have begun publicly airing a softer vision for the country’s future, with senior insurgent leaders saying the militants are willing to govern alongside other Afghan factions and even to adopt the current American-financed army as their own.

That message was delivered over the past few days by Taliban envoys during private meetings with Afghan officials and opposition politicians near Paris, according to officials close to the talks, and the softer approach has been echoed in recent interviews with Taliban figures loyal to the group’s nominal leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar. Together, it is the furthest that the Taliban’s senior leadership has gone to express in some official way that the group would be willing to operate as a mainstream Afghan political faction rather than aiming to return as conquering rulers after the end of the NATO combat mission in 2014.

But with the Taliban there are always questions.

Read more ....


Afghan Factions Meet in France As NATO Prepares Withdrawal -- Atlantic Sentinel
Afghan government, Taliban in talks -- UPI
Taliban Unveil Political Plan -- Wall Street Journal
Taliban call for new Afghanistan constitution -- AFP
Taliban seek new Afghan constitution to join peace process -- Khaama Press
Afghan Taliban call for new constitution -- Business Recorder
US hails talks between Kabul, Taliban -- Dawn

My Comment: I am not optimistic with these talks. The Taliban believe that they are the legitimate government of Afghanistan .... and that the constitution should embrace their radical version of Islam. As to what everyone else is thinking .... well .... from their point of view that is too bad.