RUTHFULLY YOURS

Attacking the meeting with gunfire and suicide bombers probably made that clear enough already. “Taliban refuse to lay down arms, to continue struggle,” from the Afghan Islamic Press, June 4:

KANDAHAR (AIP): Taliban on Friday rejected consultative peace jirga’s demand that the Taliban should lay down weapons and join the peace process, stressing that they would continue their resistance till the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan. Talking to Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) after President Hamid Karzai’s address to the concluding session of the advisory peace jirga, Taliban spokesman Qari Muhammad Yousaf Ahmadi said, “Neither the offers of the jirga are acceptable to us nor the invitation of Karzai. All these efforts are aimed at prolonging the stay of foreigners.” “The jirga is indeed a gathering of government supporters and agents of foreigners. Neither Taliban accept these jirgas nor justify their demands. If the jirga is really concerned about the welfare of Afghanistan, then it should first extend steps for withdrawal of the foreign forces,” he stated.

War is deceit, and side effects may include short-term memory loss:

He added that “First the real cause of the Afghanistan war should be found. Everyone knows that war was started by the incumbent administration and with arrival of foreigners. The fighting would continue unless the foreigners leave Afghanistan.” The Taliban spokesman repeatedly said if the incumbent government and the jirgas want an end to fighting in the country then foreign forces should leave Afghanistan, adding the withdrawal of foreign forces would remove the cause of war. “Taliban would continue their resistance and Jihad as long as the foreign forces stay in Afghanistan,” he concluded. A consultative peace jirga was started in capital Kabul on June 02 which concluded today (June 04) after discussing mechanism for talks with Taliban for three days. The jirga urged both Taliban and Afghan government to hold talks for brining [sic] peace to Afghanistan. It also urged United States to make long term policies for Afghanistan.