South Asia News

Former UN Afghan envoy reveals contacts with Taliban

Mar 19, 2010, 10:00 GMT

Former Taliban militants lay down their arms as they attend a ceremony to mark their reconciliation with the Afghan government, in Herat, western Afghanistan, 14 March 2010. Some 30 former Taliibans on 14 March, laid down their arms in Herat and joined the peace process. EPA/JALIL REZAYEE

London - The UN's former top envoy to Afghanistan revealed for the first time that secret contacts were held with Taliban leaders in Afghanistan.

Kai Eide, until recently the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, told the BBC Friday: 'Of course I met Taliban leaders while in Afghanistan.'

He said they involved face-to-face talks in Dubai and elsewhere, which he believed had the 'blessing' of the Taliban leadership.

He said the contacts began in spring 2009 and, after a 'lull' because of August's presidential elections in Afghanistan, had picked up again 'until recently.'

The Norwegian diplomat said he believed the arrests in Pakistan of top Taliban leaders recently was the reason behind the talks ending.

He said the arrests had halted a channel of secret communications with the United Nations.

'The Pakistanis did not play the role that they should have played,' Eide told the BBC. '... They must have known who they were, what kind of role they were playing, and you see the result today.'

Asked whether he had shared his information with the United States, Eide said at his home outside Oslo: 'To an extent.'

'Talks are long overdue,' he said. 'We would be much further than we are today.'

Eide said there were now many channels of communication with the Taliban, including those involving senior representatives of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

But he said these contacts were in the early stages and just 'talks about talks.'