Friday, March 19, 2010

Why did Pakistan arrest Afghan Taliban?

Former UN mission chief Kai Eide has his own theory.

The arrest of key Taliban leaders in Pakistan stopped a secret channel of communications with the United Nations, the former UN special representative to Afghanistan said Friday in a BBC interview.

Or you can read the transcript of his interview here:
Q: There are many interpretations of reasons for these arrests. One is that Pakistan wanted to stop this channel of dialogue, not just with you, but with the representatives of the Afghan government, including President Karzai, some of his brothers, because Pakistan wants to be in control of this process. Pakistan denies this, but what do you say to that interpretation?

KE: I find that interpretation to be probably the right one.