Karzai Urges Renewed German Mediation In Reviving Taliban Talks

Berlin, July 23, IRNA -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for renewed German efforts to jump-start peace talks with the Taliban radical militia group, the weekly news magazine 'Der Spiegel' reported Sunday. In a meeting with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on the sidelines of an international conference on Afghanistan in Tokyo earlier this month, Karzai had urged Berlin to resume its mediation between Kabul and the Taliban. Former German special envoy on Afghanistan, Michael Steiner had played a crucial role in starting three rounds of secret Afghan peace talks dating back to November 2010, including a meeting between a top aide of Taliban leader Mullah Omar and US government officials. The Taliban, however, broke off the talks in March after Karzai publicly torpedoed the meetings. Notwithstanding that, Steiner who is now German ambassador to India, had signalled to Karzai in spring that he thought new German mediation attempts were possible, however not before the November US presidential elections, said 'Der Spiegel'. The German government has refused to comment on the report./end