British minister says Afghan reconciliation to involve grassroots Taliban
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The Afghan government can forgo the Taliban leadership and directly reconcile with grassroots Taliban militants, British Minister for International Defense and Security Ann Taylor said Friday.
When asked whether, in a distinctly tribal society, the strategy of reconciliation does not necessarily have to go through dialogue with Taliban leaders, the British official said the answer was "no."
"I think the lower levels can make a difference. The leaders will feel that their support base is being destroyed," she said.
"There has to be 'red lines' in reconciliation. We can't work with those who are engaged in violence or those who have bands with terrorist organizations," Taylor told a press conference here.
She said many Taliban rebels only fought for 10 U.S. dollars a day instead of ideological commitment, so it was important to give a livelihood to those inclined to join the Taliban.
A new strategy, supported by the international community at the London Conference Thursday, is to "gave different life choices" to grassroots Taliban insurgents by jointly promoting "security, good governance and development."
Taylor also emphasized the importance of strengthening Afghan troops and police, monitoring and evaluating good governance, combating corruption, and coordinating international aid in the war-weary country to ensure the strategy's success.
