Afghan peace body calls on Taliban to join talks

KABUL: An Afghan government peace body called Thursday on Taliban leaders to lay down their arms and on the Saudi king to help bring the militia to the negotiating table to try to end a war now in its 10th year.

The High Council for Peace has been established to broker an end to a Taliban-led insurgency that has gained pace every year since the militia was overthrown from power in the 2001 US-led invasion.

Two weeks after its inauguration, the body called on Taliban leaders to enter dialogue with the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai, pledging to listen to "legitimate demands."

"The High Council for Peace demands the armed opposition and their leaders avoid violence and join the peace process," said spokesman Qyamuddin Kashaaf, reading out the council's official message.

"The peace council will listen to their legitimate demands and build trust among all sides under a sound political process to allow Afghans to strengthen their national sovereignty through non-violent and healthy measures."

The spokesman called on Saudi King Abdullah, whose country -- apart from Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates -- was the only one to recognise the Taliban's 1996-2001 regime, to help bind the Taliban into peace talks.

"We demand His Majesty, the Servant of the Holy Sites, the King of Saudi Arabia to use his influence with Taliban and help us in the peace process. Saudi Arabia has influence with the Taliban," he said.

Kashaaf also urged Karzai's administration and its Western military backers, a 150,000-strong US-led force, to help Afghans end the violence through talks. He give no further details.

Kashaaf, quoting Karzai, said some Taliban leaders had held talks with the Kabul administration. But he refused to give details, citing sensitivities that could endanger the process.