Taliban split with al Qaeda, seek peace

[Doomsday101]

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Taliban leaders are holding Saudi-brokered talks with the Afghan government to end the country's bloody conflict -- and are severing their ties with al Qaeda, sources close to the historic discussions have told CNN.

The militia, which has been intensifying its attacks on the U.S.-led coalition that toppled it from power in 2001 for harboring Osama bin Laden's terrorist network, has been involved four days of talks hosted by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, says the source.

The talks -- the first of their kind aimed at resolving the lengthy conflict in Afghanistan -- mark a significant move by the Saudi leadership to take a direct role in Afghanistan, hosting delegates who have until recently been their enemies.

They also mark a sidestepping of key "war on terror" ally Pakistan, frequently accused of not doing enough to tackle militants sheltering on its territory, which has previously been a conduit for talks between the Saudis and Afghanistan.

According to the source, fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar -- high on the U.S. military's most-wanted list -- was not present, but his representatives were keen to stress the reclusive cleric is no longer allied to al Qaeda.

Details of the Taliban leader's split with al Qaeda have never been made public before, but the new claims confirm what another source with an intimate knowledge of the militia and Mullah Omar has told CNN in the past.

The current round of talks, said to have been taken two years of intense behind-the-scenes negotiations to come to fruition, is anticipated to be the first step in a long process to secure a negotiated end to the conflict.

But U.S.- and Europe-friendly Saudi Arabia's involvement has been propelled by a mounting death toll among coalition troops amid a worsening violence that has also claimed many civilian casualties.

A Saudi source familiar with the talks confirmed that they happened and said the Saudis take seriously their role in facilitating discussions between parties to the conflict.

A second round of talks is scheduled to take place in two months, the Saudi source said.

The Afghan government believes the Taliban cannot be defeated militarily, and the Taliban believe that they can't win a war against the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan, the Saudi source said.

The involvement of the Saudis is also seen as an expression of fear that Iran could take advantage of U.S. failings in Afghanistan, as it is seen to be doing in Iraq.

Several Afghan sources familiar with Iranian activities in Afghanistan have said Iranian officials and diplomats who are investing in business and building education facilities are lobbying politicians in Kabul. Learn more about King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia »

The Afghan sources wish to remain anonymous due to their political roles.

Coalition commanders regularly accuse Iran of arming the Taliban, and Western diplomats privately suggest that Iran is working against U.S. interests in Afghanistan, making it harder to bring peace.

Saudi sources say perceived Iranian expansionism is one of Saudi Arabia's biggest concerns.

During the talks, described as an ice breaker, all parties agreed that the only solution to Afghanistan's conflict is through dialogue, not fighting.

Further talks are expected in Saudi Arabia involving this core group and others.

[Heisenberg]

This looks to be some good news.

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by Ozzu

This looks to be some good news.

I agree but I'm very leery of this. Lets hope this is the case

[BrAinPaiNt]

Hope it is true and I hope it works out.

Call me jaded but I will believe it when I see it.

Even more so after seeing that thing on 60 minutes last night from the Major that was the head of Delta Force at Tora Bora. The people, Warlord and his troops, they were paying $1 million (or more) to lead them to AQ and OBL were going home at night, listening to OBL on the radio in awe and wound up negotiating a cease fire with AQ without Delta Forces knowledge.

[ThaBigP]

Let us not forget that they've used this "stop shooting! Let's talk!" tactic before. Remember, in Tora Bora when we had OBL and the Taliban surrounded and beseiged, a white flag popped up and dialog was requested. We conceded to the talk. While particulars were being worked out regarding the talks, the Taliban took the opportunity to whisk OBL and his senior leadership to safety in Pakistan. The talks abruptly ceased and shooting resumed, only now we left Tora Bora empty handed.

[Garland powerplay]

Hand him over and maybe there will be peace & put an end to the conspiracy theories. Alot of people think he's dead. He has not made a live appearance in years....

The holy war lives on.