美國支持塔利班在中東成立辦事處

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:
アフガニスタンの反政府武装勢力タリバンは、アフガニスタンの和平に向けてアメリカと交渉を行う事務所を中東のカタールに開設することで、アメリカ・カタール両政府と基本合意したと発表しました。
アフガニスタンでは、反政府武装勢力タリバンがテロや攻撃を続けていますが、アメリカのオバマ政権は、アメリカ軍の撤退を進めるためにはタリバンとの間で政治的な解決が重要だとして、水面下で対話を進めてきました。こうしたなか、タリバンは３日「アメリカと協議した結果、国際社会と交渉をするための政治事務所を開設することで、アメリカやカタールの政府と基本合意した」とする声明を発表しました。事務所の開設は、タリバンとの和平交渉を進めたいアフガニスタンのカルザイ政権もすでに了承しており、実際に開設されれば、これまで停滞していたタリバンとの対話が進み、和平交渉につながる可能性もあります。しかし、タリバンは今回の声明で、アメリカに対してグアンタナモ収容所に収容しているタリバンのメンバーの釈放を強く求めているほか、「アフガニスタンで続く戦闘の当事者は自分たちとアメリカだ」と主張して、アフガニスタン政府が主導する和平交渉には応じない構えも示しています。タリバンの声明を受けて、カブールのアメリカ大使館は「アメリカ政府は、アフガニスタン政府が主導する和平交渉プロセスを支援する」という声明を発表し、アフガニスタン政府を交渉の相手としない構えを見せるタリバンをけん制しました。

(試譯文)
It was announced that Taliban the anti-government armed group in Afghanistan was establishing an office in Qatar in the Middle East in order to negotiate with the United States for peace in Afghanistan; a basic agreement had been reached between the governments of the U.S. and Qatar.

Although Taliban the anti-government armed group was continuing with terrorism and attacks in Afghanistan, the US went ahead with a behind the scene dialog with the Taliban, noting that a political solution was important for the U.S. in order that the Obama Administration could proceed with the withdrawal of the U.S. Forces. Amidst these developing situations, on the 3rd the Taliban issued a statement to announce that "As a result of discussions with the the US, it is establishing a political office to be used for holding negotiations with the international communities, and it has reached a basic agreement with the governments of the United States and Qatar." The establishment of this office had the agreement from the Karzai Administration of the Afghanistan that wanted to push forward a peace negotiation with the Taliban. With the actual establishment of an office, the now stagnant peace negotiation might continue to proceed, and it was possible to lead to a peaceful negotiation. However, by the statement, the Taliban asked strongly the US to release members of Taliban who had been kept in the Guantanamo detention center. It also claimed that "it is a matter between the US and the people who are related to the battles in Afghanistan now", a posture which showed that the Taliban would not respond to any peace negotiations led by the Afghan government. In response to this declaration of the Taliban, the American Embassy in Kabul issued a statement saying that "the American government supports the peace-negotiation process which the Afghan government takes the lead", thus checked the Taliban which showed an intention not to make the Afghan government a partner of the negotiation.

   To allow the Taliban to set up an office in Qatar is a break through politically. It has increased the chance in getting peace in Afghanistan. I always think that politics is about negotiation and compromise.