Karzai seeks negotiations with Taliban

Observing that deployment of more foreign troops is not a solution to rid his country of extremists,Afghan President Hamid Karzai has appealed to the West to develop a new strategy for the war-ravaged nation,including talks with the Taliban,even their top leader Mullah Omar. 8220;Military operations are no longer enough,8221; Karzai told 8216;The Sunday Times8217; as the offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan continued to claim the lives of British and other coalition soldiers.

8220;We have to rethink the way we do things 8211; without that there won8217;t be any improvement. I don8217;t think the increase in troops will address the problem. We need to concentrate on finding other avenues of defeating terrorism and seeking peace,8221; the Afghan President said. Favouring negotiations with the extremists,he said the Taliban,who are willing to return,should be brought back to the society.

8220;We must engage in negotiations,bring back those Taliban who are willing to return,who have been driven out by fear and coercion and the mistakes we8217;ve all made. They are part of this country and must be called back. 8220;If Mullah Omar wants to come and talk,he8217;s welcome it8217;s the desire we have and we should try for it. Without sincere peace process on all sides,matters will only get worse,8221; Karzai said.