Karzai Reveals Saudi Relationship: A Two-Year Effort To Help Curb Taliban

NY Times:

KABUL, Afghanistan --President Hamid Karzai said Tuesday that he had sought help from the Saudi royal family for the last two years to bring the resurgent Taliban to peace negotiations.

Mr. Karzai was delivering a message to Afghans marking the Muslim holiday of Id al-Fitr, which ends the month of Ramadan. Standing in the grounds of the presidential palace, he said Afghan envoys had been to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan but were unable to start negotiations with the Taliban.

"The reality is that for the last two years, we have been sending letters and messages to the king of Saudi Arabia," Mr. Karzai said, "and we had urged him as a leader of the Islamic world -- for us he is considered as leader of the Islamic world -- to help us for security, peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and for good relations in the region."

Read the whole story: NY Times

Comments

[rkimball]

don't be fooled by saudi arabia helpintg to rid the taliban. they are sunnis at odds with sheites & their extremists. the saudis also fund their own brand of madrases of hate all around the world & they are just as bent on bringing down the west.

[Durango]

Doesn't it occur to you that Saudi Arabia is a country, like all other countries, of diverse opinions and beliefs? That it is not all one thing or another.

That there are competing adverse interests at play?

You might get a clue that the Saudi Monarchy has been one of the best friends the United States and the west has ever had. they have, for the most part, kept the oil flowing. Despite the United states best efforts to embarrass them?

Which is not to say the Saudi royalty is of the same opinion about anything. I am certain that members of the family support (ed) Osama Bin Ladin . And also support the insurgency in Iraq.

Which is not to say the King or government supports either.

The world is not a simple place. And the Saudi Kingdom is anything but simple.

[Durango]

Interesting.

To all those out there who think the politics and religion outlooks of the Middle East and South Asia are simple.

You are fools.

This is all VERY complicated.

Al Qaida is far more of a threat to the people and governments of the Islamic world than they are to those of us in the west. They have killed far more Muslims than people in the West.

Bush/Cheney did the worst thing imaginable by invading Iraq rather than concentrating on the real threat. Osama Bin Ladin, his crew and his clones.

P.S. Don't you suppose Bin Ladin is sitting in his cave somewhere laughing his ass off about our economic crisis.

And what do you want to bet his propaganda arm will take credit for destroying the Great Satan?

Good job Bush/Cheney. Giving this creep all the credibility he desired.

[BushSunkOurShip]

If Bin laden or any other country or persons had attempted anyone of Bush's arrogant crimes against our country they would have been attack as terrorist and evil doers...

[ajax2]

Hamid, psst, al-Qaeda are Saudis. Keep it under your hat, will you.

[Berettasskeeter]

Its a darn shame that you have no idea what you are talking about, isn't it?! Al Qaeda is represented along all ethnic lines, not merely Saudi. That's what makes this a global, multi-generational, religious war. Try to pay attention!?
Semper fi

[ajax2]

Wrong. Too bad your reading skills are as poor as your memory. Al Qaeda as we know it was an original Saudi production started by bin-Laden, a SAUDI. Saudi Arabia acknowledged that 15 of the Sept. 11 suicide hijackers were Saudi citizens. Most of the visas were issued by Saudi Arabia. The fact that they expanded and are now international doesn't change history. Get some facts mate. Try reading. My statement that al- Qaeda are Saudis stands in context.

[robeson]

Let me help you here Berettasskeeter. If you want to get John Gotti you go to Little Italy. Not really brain science or news breaking to have Saudi help, they know him very well.

[Huffyfan]

Brilliant