Pakistan Role Needed in Afghan Reconciliation Process: Petraeus, The Hindustan Times, 29 June 2010

EXCERPT: "US President Barack Obama's new war commander in Afghanistan, Gen David Petraeus, told lawmakers on Tuesday that Pakistan's involvement would be 'essential' if any reconciliation pact was agreed upon in the war-torn country. Petraeus, who spoke at his nomination hearing, spoke to Afghan President Hamid Karzai before coming to the Capitol Hill. 'With respect to Pakistani involvement in some form of the reconciliation agreement, I think that is essential,' Petraeus said in his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. [...] 'Now whether that is possible, such an agreement, I think is going to depend on a number of factors that would play out over the course of the summer, including a sense among the Taliban that they are going to be hammered in the field and perhaps they should look at some options,' he said. He said there had been instances of some lower and mid-level Taliban leaders seeking to reintegrate. 'The reintegration decree that was approved by President Karzai on Tuesday would help qualify the process for this and that should help,' Petraeus said."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
, Asia Times Online, 30 June 2010
[OpEd], The New York Times, 29 June 2010
Petraeus supports Pakistan role in Afghan dialogue, CNN // This Just In, 29 June 2010
US military chief meets Zardari, air chief marshal, Daily Times, 27 June 2010
US cooperation with Pakistan unprecedented, Daily Times, 20 June 2010

Related posts:
Negotiating with the Taliban: Issues and prospects, 28 June 2010
Pakistan efforts to broker Afghan-Haqqani peace "undermine US interests", 25 June 2010
US praises Pakistan's "excellent cooperation"; security pledge made, 19 May 2010
US-Pakistan relationship uncertain: Brief, 29 March 2010
The US strategy in Afghanistan: Impacts upon US interests in Pakistan, 12 November 2009
US pushes for regional approach to AfPak security, 13 May 2010