THE US and Nato pledged support for secretive peace talks in Afghanistan with Taliban forces but the alliance warned there would be no easing of the military campaign against the rebels.
As Nato foreign and defence ministers discussed a series of cost-saving reforms for the organisation at its base in Brussels, they also took stock of tentative efforts by Afghan president Hamid Karzai to reach a political accommodation with the Taliban.
The informal contacts, denied by certain Taliban leaders, come amid public disillusionment with the war in Europe, record Nato casualties and US efforts to prepare the ground for a handover of security powers to the local authorities.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton described the talks as a “complex effort” which remains at an early phase. “There are a lot of different strains to it that may or may not be legitimate or borne out as any bona fide reconciliation,” she said.
She said Mr Karzai’s administration knew where US “red lines” were drawn in respect of talks.
US defence secretary Robert Gates said Washington was in close contact with Kabul about the talks. “We know what they are doing . . . They understand what our requirements are.”
According to the New York Times, Allied forces in Afghanistan are giving Taliban leaders safe passage to Kabul to participate in the talks. However, Taliban spokesman Zabihollah Mojahed was quoted on the BBC’s Persian-language website saying there had been no contact with Mr Karzai’s government.
While Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance was willing to offer practical assistance in the talks process, he said military pressure will continue. “The best way to facilitate the reconciliation and reintegration process is to keep up the pressure on the Taliban.”
The meeting of Nato comes in advance of a summit next month in Lisbon at which the alliance will adopt a new “strategic concept” – akin to a mission statement – and take cost-cutting measures. “I expect the summit to agree a substantially leaner alliance command structure,” Mr Rasmussen told reporters.
The ministers agreed to reduce the number of Nato headquarters from 11 to six – with a reduction of 4,000 staff, to 13,000. Nato wants its 28 members to agree to invest €200 million to link their missile defence capabilities. Most agree, but France appears reluctant.