McChrystal Sees Possible Role for Taliban in Afghanistan

2 years ago

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Washington Reporter

In an interview with the U.K.'s Financial Times, Gen. Stanley McChrystal said coalition forces in Afghanistan should negotiate a peace settlement with the Taliban. McChrystal said that, after the 30,000 new American troops arrive, he expects to weaken the insurgency in the country enough that its leaders will agree to settlements with the Afghan government.

"As a soldier, my personal feeling is that there's been enough fighting," he said. "What I think we do is try to shape conditions which allow people to come to a truly equitable solution to how the Afghan people are governed." McChrystal added that positions in the government would be open to "any Afghan" willing to put the past behind them.

The top U.S. commander first mentioned his belief that negotiating with the Taliban could eventually in the end the war last week in Pakistan. He is expected to urge coalition leaders to agree to such a strategy at a conference in London this week.

Tagged: daily guidance, DailyGuidance, stanley mcchrystal, StanleyMcchrystal

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