Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KABUL3491
2007-10-14 06:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kabul
how-toVZCZCXRO8981 PP RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHYG DE RUEHBUL #3491 2870635 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 140635Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0888 INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC 0543 RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4248
UNCLAS KABUL 003491
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A
DEPT PASS AID/ANE
DEPT PASS USTR FOR GERBER AND KLEIN
DEPT PASS OPIC FOR ZAHNISER
DEPT PASS TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP
CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
TREASURY FOR LMCDONALD, ABAUKOL, BDAHL, AND MNUGENT
OSD FOR SHIVERS
COMMERCE FOR DEES, CHOPPIN, AND FONOVICH
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: ECON OTRA PREL AF
SUBJECT: SPANTA ON TALIBAN TALKS
UNCLAS KABUL 003491
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A
DEPT PASS AID/ANE
DEPT PASS USTR FOR GERBER AND KLEIN
DEPT PASS OPIC FOR ZAHNISER
DEPT PASS TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP
CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
TREASURY FOR LMCDONALD, ABAUKOL, BDAHL, AND MNUGENT
OSD FOR SHIVERS
COMMERCE FOR DEES, CHOPPIN, AND FONOVICH
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: ECON OTRA PREL AF
SUBJECT: SPANTA ON TALIBAN TALKS
1. On October 9, FM Spanta convened the diplomatic corps, ostensibly
to discuss the upcoming ECO conference to be held in Herat, but in
reality to announce the government's position on talks with the
Taliban.
Spanta said that the government intended to invite contacts with
elements of the Taliban who were willing to recognize the authority
of the government and return to peaceful life. He made clear that
there were some members of the Taliban with whom the government
would not engage, nor would it engage with Al-Qaeda. Spanta
repeated President Karzai's distinction between "hard core" Taliban
and others. He stressed that the government would not negotiate or
compromise with terrorism. He said that the engagement "was not to
be seen as a sign of weakness, on the part of the government or its
international partners.
2. Comment. This formal announcement to the diplomatic corps was
the next step in a larger effort by the government to respond to
selected Taliban overtures and take acceptable Taliban elements off
the battlefield.
WOOD
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A
DEPT PASS AID/ANE
DEPT PASS USTR FOR GERBER AND KLEIN
DEPT PASS OPIC FOR ZAHNISER
DEPT PASS TDA FOR STEIN AND GREENIP
CENTCOM FOR CSTC-A
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
TREASURY FOR LMCDONALD, ABAUKOL, BDAHL, AND MNUGENT
OSD FOR SHIVERS
COMMERCE FOR DEES, CHOPPIN, AND FONOVICH
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: ECON OTRA PREL AF
SUBJECT: SPANTA ON TALIBAN TALKS
1. On October 9, FM Spanta convened the diplomatic corps, ostensibly
to discuss the upcoming ECO conference to be held in Herat, but in
reality to announce the government's position on talks with the
Taliban.
Spanta said that the government intended to invite contacts with
elements of the Taliban who were willing to recognize the authority
of the government and return to peaceful life. He made clear that
there were some members of the Taliban with whom the government
would not engage, nor would it engage with Al-Qaeda. Spanta
repeated President Karzai's distinction between "hard core" Taliban
and others. He stressed that the government would not negotiate or
compromise with terrorism. He said that the engagement "was not to
be seen as a sign of weakness, on the part of the government or its
international partners.
2. Comment. This formal announcement to the diplomatic corps was
the next step in a larger effort by the government to respond to
selected Taliban overtures and take acceptable Taliban elements off
the battlefield.
WOOD