InfoAnda - Amid peace bid, U.S. got purported letter from Taliban |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Gay rights movement: 40 years since Stonewall riots | 26 June 2009
Indian FM denies call to Pakistani president | 7 December 2008
Bomb kills 13 at Pakistani bus station | | 23 February 2012

Candidates picked for Mongolia presidential ballot | 3 April 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Amid peace bid, U.S. got purported letter from Taliban |

Edition: U.S. Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom Home Business Business Home Economy Davos 2012 Technology Media Small Business Legal Deals Earnings Summits Business Video The Freeland File Markets Markets Home U.S. Markets European Markets Asian Markets Global Market Data Indices M&A Stocks Bonds Currencies Commodities Futures Funds peHUB World World Home U.S. Brazil China Euro Zone Japan Mexico Russia India Insight World Video Reuters Investigates Decoder Politics Politics Home Election 2012 Issues 2012 Candidates 2012 Tales from the Trail Political Punchlines Supreme Court Politics Video Tech Technology Home MediaFile Science Tech Video Tech Tonic Opinion Opinion Home Chrystia Freeland John Lloyd Felix Salmon Jack Shafer David Rohde Bernd Debusmann Nader Mousavizadeh Lucy P. Marcus David Cay Johnston Bethany McLean Edward Hadas Hugo Dixon Ian Bremmer Mohamed El-Erian Lawrence Summers Susan Glasser The Great Debate Steven Brill Geraldine Fabrikant Jack & Suzy Welch Breakingviews Equities Credit Private Equity M&A Macro & Markets Politics Breakingviews Video Money Money Home Tax Break Global Investing MuniLand Unstructured Finance Linda Stern Mark Miller John Wasik James Saft Analyst Research Alerts Watchlist Portfolio Stock Screener Fund Screener Personal Finance Video Money Clip Investing 201 Life Health Sports Arts Faithworld Business Traveler Entertainment Oddly Enough Lifestyle Video Pictures Pictures Home Reuters Photographers Full Focus Video Reuters TV Reuters News Article Comments (0) Video Full Focus Editor's choice A selection of our best photos from the last 24 hours. Full Article Images of January Best photos of the year 2011 Follow Reuters Facebook Twitter RSS YouTube Read Jobless rate at three-year low as payrolls surge | 3:16pm EST Radcliffe admits being drunk during "Harry Potter" scenes 1:51pm EST Iran threatens retaliation over oil embargo 1:49pm EST A sobering look at Facebook | 3:09pm EST Komen reverses move to cut Planned Parenthood funding 3:47pm EST Discussed 163 Job growth seen slowing after holiday boost 92 Romney wins Florida Republican presidential primary 89 Indiana poised to approve anti-union law Watched Iran sends toy drone to Obama Sun, Jan 29 2012 We are already in new great depression: Paul Krugman 5:15am EST Leftist protesters attack British banks in Buenos Aires Thu, Feb 2 2012 Amid peace bid, U.S. got purported letter from Taliban Tweet Share this Email Print Related News U.S. seeks to play down Panetta's Afghan comments Thu, Feb 2 2012 U.S. tries to ease confusion over Afghan plans Thu, Feb 2 2012 Taliban vows to retake Afghanistan: report Wed, Feb 1 2012 Heavy fighting in Pakistan tribal areas kills dozens Wed, Feb 1 2012 Pakistan minister: leaked document can be "disregarded" Wed, Feb 1 2012 Analysis & Opinion Washington Extra – Proposals to nowhere Afghan “exit strategy” begins to unravel Related Topics World » Related Video NATO clarifies Afghan exit strategy 12:13pm EST By Missy Ryan and Warren Strobel WASHINGTON | Fri Feb 3, 2012 3:38pm EST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House received a letter last year purported to come directly from Mullah Omar, the reclusive leader of the Taliban, asking the United States to deliver militant prisoners whose transfer is now at the heart of the Obama administration's bid to broker peace in Afghanistan. The unusual message kicked off a debate within the administration about whether it was truly authored by the mysterious one-eyed preacher believed to be directing the Taliban from hiding in Pakistan -- and its meaning for U.S. efforts to forge a negotiated end to America's longest war. "As we have engaged various interlocutors as part of the reconciliation process, we have received a variety of messages that were represented as being from senior members of the Taliban," an administration official said on condition of anonymity. "However, we haven't received a letter that we are certain is from Mullah Omar." The message reportedly expressed impatience that the White House had not yet transferred five former senior Taliban officials out of Guantanamo Bay military prison. U.S. officials have been considering moving the detainees to Afghan custody in the Gulf state of Qatar as one of a series of good-faith measures that, if successful, could lead to talks on Afghanistan's future between militants and the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The accelerating efforts to set such talks in motion are a central part of the Obama administration's strategy for leaving behind a modicum of stability as it winds down the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan. A former imam and mujahideen guerrilla, Omar has not participated in initial U.S. contacts focused on confidence-building measures. But his public support would be crucial for any peace agreement if substantive negotiations can be had. After over 10 years of war, Washington and its Western allies are announcing plans to steadily withdraw their troops amid doubts whether the chronically weak, corrupt Afghan government can confront ongoing violence. TALIBAN INTENTIONS UNCLEAR The Taliban has been able to survive - indeed flourish in some areas - in part because it has been able to slip across Afghanistan's porous eastern border to rest and rearm. According to a recent secret report produced by NATO, Taliban detainees in Afghanistan remain convinced they will retake the country when the foreign force of about 130,000 soldiers goes home. Last month, the Taliban made a surprise announcement it would open a political office in Qatar, suggesting the group may have moderated and would be willing to engage in negotiations that would likely give it government positions or official control over much of its historical southern heartland. But it is unclear whether the Taliban is truly interested in entertaining authentic political negotiations, or simply wants to recover its prisoners. The impact of the letter on U.S. reconciliation efforts, headed by Obama's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman, is likewise uncertain. The administration official said the Obama administration was "skeptical" the letter was actually from Mullah Omar. "There's no signature. However, it expresses views consistent with what Taliban interlocutors have told us all along." U.S. officials say no decision has been made to go ahead with the transfer, but the White House is already facing pushback from members of Congress who warn that transferred detainees could rejoin the fight. While Congress does not have the power to block the move, the White House might rethink such a risky move if serious bipartisan friction emerged in a presidential election year. Other U.S. politicians note the Taliban may not be prepared to renounce the brutal tactics that characterized its government, which was toppled in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks. The Taliban, which rose to prominence in 1994 under Mullah Omar's leadership, was known during its rule for ferocity against those seen as violating its strict interpretation of Islam, the oppression of women and attacks against minority Shi'ite Muslims. (Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball and Andrew Quinn; Editing by Peter Cooney) World Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above. Edition: U.S. Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom Back to top Reuters.com Business Markets World Politics Technology Opinion Money Pictures Videos Site Index Legal Bankruptcy Law California Legal New York Legal Securities Law Support & Contact Support Corrections Advertise With Us Connect with Reuters Twitter Facebook LinkedIn RSS Podcast Newsletters Mobile About Privacy Policy Terms of Use Copyright Our Flagship financial information platform incorporating Reuters Insider An ultra-low latency infrastructure for electronic trading and data distribution A connected approach to governance, risk and compliance Our next generation legal research platform Our global tax workstation Thomsonreuters.com About Thomson Reuters Investor Relations Careers Contact Us Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Saturday, 4 February 2012
Insight: Syria's Assad set for long conflict |
Amid peace bid, U.S. got purported letter from Taliban |
Sudan's Bashir says tensions with South could spark war |
Analysis:Nuclear crisis bolsters Japan push for utilities reform |
Micron CEO Appleton dies in plane crash |
Disagreements on cyber risk East-West Cold War |
Going mobile: Travel's eventual high-tech future |
Radcliffe admits being drunk during Harry Potter scenes |
Bee Gee Robin Gibb makes spectacular recovery |
Over 200 people killed in Syria's Homs before U.N. vote |
Iran threatens retaliation over oil embargo |
Amid peace bid, U.S. got purported letter from Taliban |
Sudan rebels seeking way to hand over abducted Chinese |
Pakistan PM to discuss Afghanistan reconciliation in Qatar |
Cost drives NATO bid for smaller Afghan army |
Romania rescues children as Europe's freeze deepens |
Most Japanese towns undecided on nuclear stress tests: survey |
Bosnia passes laws key to EU bid, Muslims agree to census |
Micron CEO dies in plane crash, industry stunned |
Facebook's high tax rate likely to drop |
Actor Ben Gazzara dead at 81 |
Actor Ben Gazzara dead at 81 |
Star Wars, Ferris Bueller drive Super Bowl ad buzz |
Erotica director Zalman King dies from cancer |
JC Penney stands by Ellen DeGeneres as spokeswoman |
Iran says oil ban will not halt nuclear work |
Russians stage rival protests over Putin |
Egypt clashes ease but protesters determined to fight on |
Heavy weapons rattle northern Mali town, thousands flee |
Afghan Taliban deny Mullah Omar wrote to White House |
Panetta reassures European allies over defense cuts |
Kenya says hits rebel convoy with helicopter gunships |
Militants attack Yemen army base in south |
McCain ruffles Beijing with talk of Chinese Arab Spring |
Radcliffe admits being drunk during Harry Potter scenes |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01