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This television frame grab from 1996 taken secretly by BBC Newsnight shows Taliban's spiritual leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, center, in Kandahar in 1996. — AFP/file
WASHINGTON: The United States has said that after Jan 2, US forces in Afghanistan will not target Mullah Omar and other Taliban leaders unless they posed a direct threat to the US.
“Being a member of the Taliban doesn’t mean that the United States is going to prosecute operations against you for that reason alone,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told a recent news briefing in Washington.
But he also drew a line between combatant and non-combatant Taliban, saying that those who continued to fight would not be spared.
Also read: Taliban leader Mullah Omar says prisoner swap “big victory”
“We’ve also concurred that a member of the Taliban who undertakes missions against us or our Afghan partners — by that act alone, renders himself vulnerable and liable to US action,” Rear Admiral Kirby said.
In his year-end news conference on Friday, President Barack Obama assured the American nation that he would fulfil his pledge to end the US-led war in Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
“And in less than two weeks, after more than 13 years, our combat mission in Afghanistan will be over,” he said.
President Obama, however, has authorised this force to fight the militants if they posed a direct threat to them or caused a major threat to official Afghan forces.
Know more: Conflicting loyalties among Afghans at Mullah Omar's mosque
At the Pentagon briefing, journalists asked Mr Kirby to further explain the policy and also asked him if US forces would continue to pursue Taliban leader Mullah Omar after 2014 as well, as they did in the past.
Mullah Omar was Afghanistan’s head of state from 1996 until the US forced him from power in 2001. He has been on the State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme since Oct 2001, for harbouring Osama bin Laden and other terrorists. The reward for his capture is $10 million.
“Is Mullah and the other people on this list, are they no longer liable for their past acts in Afghanistan?” a journalist asked.
“I don’t know if I can answer that question. As the recognised leader of the Taliban to the degree the Taliban still poses a threat or poses a threat to us or to our allies, they will continue to be prosecuted by US military operations,” Admiral Kirby said. “I can’t really make it any more simpler than that.”
The Pentagon spokesman explained that from January 2nd, the US policy in Afghanistan would change.
But “what changes fundamentally, though, is (that) … on January 2nd, just by being a member of the Taliban doesn’t make you an automatic target,” he explained.
“So, beginning January 2nd, it will be up to the Afghans to go after someone like a Mullah Omar?” asked a journalist.
“That’s correct, unless there is a direct threat that’s posed,” Mr Kirby said.
Published in Dawn, December 22th, 2014
Comments (108) Closed
The Pakistani Liberal may confuse this with Hypocrisy. Americans are doing their best to protect their own interests and so should Pakistan do it.
O the irony, we keep on harping about good and bad Taliban yet the people who introduced this term "Good and bad" taliban , the americans, firmly believe in this.
So now US also tows the line of Good Taliban and Bad Taliban. Great.... Pak has a true ally in US.
Always hypocrite policy from US. They created taliban, they utilized them against Soviet. Then they attacked them. After a long self created war in Afghanistan they very smartly inherited the WOT to Pakistan, and now they say good bye we are no more. Because taliban is no more threat to but Pakistan. And this was there aim of 13 year.
Always hypocrite policy from US. They created taliban, they utilized them against Soviet. Then they attacked them. After a long self created war in Afghanistan they very smartly inherited the WOT to Pakistan, and now they say good bye we are no more. Because taliban is no more threat to but Pakistan. And this was there aim of 13 year..
Why should they target one of their own?
@ASHFAQ ALI That is not true - US had given ample number of chances to Pakistan to participate in irradiation of terrorists. We took the money/aid and went on to work on our interests at that time. Now the same people are Pakistan's problem and why should any one help the forces when we have maintained a silent ear for over 15 years?
Ultimately, there can be no military solution to the problem of extremism and militancy.
@ASHFAQ ALI Therefore we must go after the Afghan Taliban on Pakistan's territory. No more double games of the Mussharaf-Kayani era (we have the seen the results). One thing must be clear that even just mere presence of an Afghan Taliban on Pakistan territory must become intolerable the state of Pakistan. And we must also dismantle the anti India jihadi network in Punjab, they might not be biting us today but they might be just another Pakistani Taliban in the making.
It's a wise move to end decades of conflict in the region. All warring factions of Afghanistan should reach a peaceful agreement for the people of Afghanistan, Pakistan, US and the rest of the world.
US is an expert in dealing with this kind of trash they have have been doing this for the past century Jesse James gang,hole in the wall gang,Bonnie& Clyde Alfonso cop one,Oklahoma bombing and many others so please feel free to get get rid of this trash with extreme predujice but exercise caution and understanding when in a foreign land and no sweeping of the aftermath under the carpet leave the place sterile.
Taliban have never been, are not, and will never be a direct threat to US in USA. They don't have the capacity to do that. US uses such elements for its purposes and discards them thereafter. We always claim to be friends of US while for US it is marriage of convenience. Why we cannot meet our energy requirements through Iran? If US doesn't want that, it should provide us funds to compensate and help in building Dams.
This sounds like a rubbish report. Pakistan will get mullah Omar we don't need America for that, however America need us for stable Afganistan.
Mullah Omar will soon be a very influential person (most likely president) in Afghanistan. Americans know that and want to mend relationship with Taliban in general. They might change their name from "Taliban" to "Students" but Americans know (after 13 years of experience) who really controls Afghanistan. The are smart people they will never put their hopes on Ashraf Ghani or Kharzai who wont last a day if Americans are to leave.
This is what US always do : - Start a war for their own benefit - Create a group of locals (i.e. Taliban) and supply them weapons - Leave the country after creating a war within a nation/ people Then they look at us and enjoy!!! US should back off and let our country administration do their job.
He probably got bought out by the CIA some time ago...
We dont have to follow Americans and justify our own shortcomings. Its not their backyard, its ours
And here they starts.......the forefathers of terrorism!!!..PAKISTAN should not be confused by this.(If pakistan is really serious.)
When Pakistan is going all out on Taliban, US is taking a step back. Interesting, isn't it?
What a joke. When we decided not to distinguish between good Taliban and Bad Taliban ( a Terrorists is a Terrorist), USA is trying to go backwards. They are as confused as we were. US must immediately reconsider this wrong decision or sack this confused spokesman.
Wow!! What a logic. Suddenly when Pakistan is trying to solve the Taliban issue. USA thinks there is a good Taliban and there is a bad Taliban!! Lets stand up and applaud the enlightened world. Remember in 1947 their brothers (British) left Kashmir issue just the same way.
When U.S. was offering us full resources to combat all Taleban, we were busy in drawing a line between good and bad Taleban. Now, U.S. retreats from Afghanistan and we are busy in omitting the line between good and bad Taleban. Our intellectuals for God sake don't run the country on ad hoc basis. Please learn the lesson that home-grown militancy is not solution to any problem including Kashmir instead strengthen the economy and strengthen the army. And then you can get Kashmir as Russia got Crimea. And then our Eastern and the Western borders will be safe.
In other words it's an offer to mullah Omar to leave the violence and be a part of the current political set up,which is highly impossible and non starter to expect from some one like Omar.So the game goes on ,just this time it will be an afghan army led with the Americans lending their air power as and when required and requested by afghan army. Bottom line the war will continue on both sides of the Durand line even after 2014.
USA please rid of this trash from this country and after you are done please don't leave any arms and ammunition behind, bring in agricultural equipment and expertise to train the hard working people who are being exploited by the corrupt politicians show them how to have a say so on their human rights and Running of a country,and then you will have an alliance with a country most important in this region.
So Pakistan was absolutely right in differentiating between good and bad Taliban since 9/11. Now pseudo liberals should shut up and follow their US masters.
good and bad Taliban. lol
Oh Americans please leave us alone and let us decided ourselves our future . Don't confuse the nation again between good and bad . We only know who ever target us will be just BAD and we will kill all those !!!! Mind your own business now time to back off .
@ASHFAQ ALI
I am surprised, it took so long for you to understand American Foreign Policy game. Were you living in the cave all these years. Every nation is like that including Pakistan, do you think Pakistan supports Taliban government in Afghanistan for Afghan peoples' interest? Like every humane acts for the self interest, nations do the same. Like humans, nations call they belong to this or that religion.
So now we know USA is a friend of all talibans, from financing them to accomodating.
@ASHFAQ ALI I am a pakistani liberal and I do consider this America's biggest hypocrisy. All Taliban are the same.
Afghanistan! Sooner or Later, the time was coming. Graveyard of Empires it is boy!!
The US has proved once again that they are very practical people and consider their national interests above all else. This is a very strong and significant step by the US. I suggest Pakistan take a leaf out of the US book.
AMERICANS are way smarter than us. It's not our war, never was, but we got into this mess according to the US plan, so we can fight each other and destroy eaxhnother.
@ASHFAQ ALI : huge difference is US is not being safe heaven for any terrorists whereas Pakistan has been one. US doesn't have to fix each and every wrong thing in the world unless they target US. but it is common sense that if you are providing safeheaven for terrorists, you should destroy safe heaven whether those terrorists attack you or others.
Hello pseudo liberals, do you find any justification of this? Hi Indian fellows, how do you feel about this distinction?
US hypocrisy
@ASHFAQ ALI in short.. what they are saying is.. we lost. . But if anyone attacks us we will retaliate... so leave us be in our bases so we can continue with our strategic plans... like that's gonna happen... the afghan taliban will more than likely seize the initiative... meanwhile pakistan needs to change the narrative by stopping drone attacks by force if necessary.. and ensure that any anti pakistan activities by any group ttp sectarian or otherwise are not tolerated.. we can't claim to be enraged by the Peshawar attack only to be silent on the misery and death delivered by indiscriminate drones.. Both victims are equally pakistani and equally deserving of our sympathy as well as the need for justice
@ASHFAQ ALI, by associating your interest with Molla Umer or Haqanis terrorist you are actually endorsing Peshawar School massacre to happen all over Afghanistan. There is no such chance that either the free world or Afghans will let it happen.
Another US failure. He had head money and now he is no more a threat. Terrorists are pledging allegiance to him but US redefines him as good Taliban.....Lol
And if Mullah Omer didn't pose any threat to America up to 2020,he may be awarded a Peace Prize.
Mullah Omar after hearing this might come out, and US will change its decision.
There is a difference between US and Pakistan. US can afford to leave talibans or any other militant without targeting them; but pakistan can't . The reason is simple - these militants are NOT in US or nearby location but they are in Pakistan and Afghan.
So Pakistan, don't get confused. At least clean your own country.
US will always do what suits to its interest. I feel US is perfectly right and practical here. If other countries are foolish not to understand it, it's their problem.
USA never wanted to finish #Taliban, they wanted to control .........
Poor India and Pakistan are suffering from this....
@ASHFAQ ALI, so should the Pashtun, protect their interests, which for now is their lives and their children lives on both sides of Durand line. It seems we might have to go our separate ways, Pakistanis looking for their interests and Pashtun for theirs.
Gen you are and the American government is very late. President Karzai had told US forces and leadership that he can talk to Mullah Omer without any clash and take Kandahar control without eruption of fight. But US had rejected and thought only fight should be applied.
Shame shame shame for US.
So its decided Ganini will form new govt with non combatant Taliban;
And is this not differentiating between good taliban and bad taliban by the US
So they have done it again! :) what a Hypocrite USA Army and Leaders are! Shame on you. Now Pakistan Army is alone again in this war. We will do whatever it will cost to save our nation!
Pakistan should realize now that US only care about their interests. Pakistan was being criticized because of good and bad Taliban policy by west and so called Pakistani liberals. Now lets waot what would they say about this new US policy.
Probably US is now planning to use this monster against Baghdadi.......
Hey Indians now you wont tell and teach US about terrorism , you wont lecture them about good and bad ? or it was about Pakistan only "?
I wonder would this play with the current Indian government?
And so ladies and gentlemen, another game begins when one ended. Now that the Pakistani State has decided to root out the Good and Bad Taliban Distinction, our so-called ally has done just that. What this would mean would be, that all Afghan and Pakistani militants will unite against Pakistan since the Pakistani state wouldn't accept such militancy and they no longer would be considered a threat in Afghanistan. And as far as the question goes how do you make the Good and Bad Distinction, and also how much of a threat you have to pose for there any action against you be taken? Well, your guess is as good as mine what this actually means. May the lord be merciful.
It would be all peaceful after the US withdrawal from afghanistan!
Breaking News: Mullah Omar has graduated to the class of "good: Taliban!
Instead of India and Pakistan fighting with each other they should target Taliban together. They will certainly win the war. But then this is wishful thinking. We are happy with US in our region but not with each other. Thanks two nation theory. In my assessment this theory has already swallowed 10 million lives and majority of them children and women. Remember direct action, partition, East Pakistan, Kashmir insurgency, and Afghanistan and Pakistan of present day. The territories of Budhha and Ashok have been converted into killing fields, that too of innocent children. All this in the name of faith.
@Faisal from Chicago We means Chicago, Pakistan, right?
Thanks Pakistan for hosting "good" Taliban says Uncle Sam!
The NATO forces in Afghanistan always toed the Good and Bad Taliban line. Why do you think TTP became a force it has become after 9/11?
These games have been going for far too long.
There you go - paving way for recognizing taliban's regime and paving way for their entry in political process to lead Afghanistan in future.
So in a netshell Pakistan alone has to face the music.
Hey Pakistanis... Americans dont care . They know now Taliban are after your children. This war is you own. Even the Chinese wont help.
So American friends are good and Pakistani enemies are good. But If Pakistan's enemy harm American, they are also bad. But if Pakistan's enemy only harm Pakistan, its none of America's business. So in short, Pakistan, All the Best !! We Americans are leaving, all are your enemies. And yes you guys are not doing good in combating against terroriam, so we are putting sanctions on you as well.
US saw it excellent opportunity to make exit, as Pakistan's capable army is too angry at Taliban why should they worry anymore, what an ally, time Pakistan wakes up and realigns itself based on new geopolitical dynamics.
@Paggri sanbhaal
Deja vu????
@Red Dawn Yes you are right those 141 kids and people are resting in peace in there grave yard,if that is what you meant by peace.This is Pakistan own problem and rulers need to sort it out themselves along with Army.
@Michinkhel look up Tamil Tigers. Sri Lanka fought the insurgency for more than 25 years. They won.
We too need to devise our policy keeping in view this smart move by US. Terrorism will fly out of Pak & Afganistan once the US is out of these two war-ravaged countries and peace will return. We need to look at our own interests
This is American hypocrisy. Pakistani liberal cannot understand their policies. They created Taliban, used them in own interest, now are using and these terrorist would working on American agenda. Americans are showing In the whole world Muslims are terrorists but Muslims are slaughtering, their houses are destroying and Mosques are bombing. please understand it.
Musharraf is right. We count their terrorists among our terrorists but they don't count our terrorists among their terrorists. . Enough is enough. Ghani's words won't do...
American hypocrisy! Pakistani liberal cannot understand their it. CIA created Taliban, used them in own interest, now are using and these terrorist would working on American agenda. American always show In the whole world Muslims are terrorists but Muslims are slaughtering, their houses are destroying and Mosques are bombing.
Is this not similar to how Pakistan is ignoring punjab extremists...has Pakistan not received a gazillion dollars to fight terrorists which it did not use wisely...if even the policy in Pakistan is to not target all terrorists then how can you blame US...
So when Pakistan diffretiates between good Taliban and Bad it was not a good thing. But the US can do it. Got it. No double standards there
@shah, how did that fare for Pakistan? The stains of blood of our children haven't dried up yet and we are again back to championing the same policy which has got us this far. US didn't have to bury its kids by the hands of these creatures, we have!
The US policy is clear! They are all set to pack their bags and do not want to risk any further attacks on their soil or on their combat/non-combat personnel present in Afghanistan right now. The fight was never Pakistan's in the first place but unfortunately not anymore! because of dirty/hypocratic US policies. After their ZERO achievement in Afghanistan, they are going back home and unfortunately Pakistan is paying the price and facing all the consequences.
And they are sure that these NON-COMBATANT Talibans shall remain in this state forever?? How can you spare a group who has committed heinous crimes against humanity just because they are not engaging you anymore?
Difference between good and bad taliban, I am astonished to see that US clarify a line.
An Indian troll has commented that US can do it as it can afford to do so , being "far away" . So , if Pakistan can "afford" to keep neutral relations with Hafiz Saeed , India shouldn't have a problem with that. It's not Pakistan's problem if Hafiz Saeed is ALLEGEDLY involved in Mumbai blasts , as per Indian narrative.
Pakistani Government and Pakistan Army should learn from USA how to make a BIG U Turns. We all should learn from USA in making U Turns, they are experts in it ......... no harm in learning.
This is diplomatic way of saying, Pakistan you deal with them now, we are outta here. So Sartaj Aziz wasn't just rambling when he mentioned good and bad Taliban. Perhaps he knew what US policy is.
@syed Cannot agree more my South Asian brother. Please emphasize the need for all of South Asia to work together and spread the measure far and wide inside Pakistan.Time for all South Asians to stand up and work for a great South Asian century. Imagine where we will be if we stand together on the economic front. If Asean could do it why cant the people of South Asia?. We dont need outside help. All we need is to co-operate with each other.
@Safwan I appreciate your thought...! well said.
After Fighting Against taliban For More Then 10 years when An Official can use such a language For terrorism That pak will Avoid Direct Confrontation with taliban who dosent pose any threat to pak and its a US Afghan problem, If you collect dotts you wil get why US Said It ,Because they Know Now Pak Really Want Them To Be ally For Such a Expedition
@Indian - nope Mr. Indian. The US is right. Not every Taliban is bad. Only those that are fighting are bad.
@baakhlaq You might be right.
US is the biggest hypocrite in all this game, we should realize their strategy earlier. Now, for us, its "Do or Die".
@Indian Finally you Guys Admit this
According to the US, there are no good or bad Taliban. There are only documented and undocumented Taliban.
Good Taliban and Bad Taliban - US narrative has changed.
@Asim Munir FYI, the term "Good and bad Taliban" is introduced by American not us. Please understand the background first.
At the time when All of Pakistan have united against all types of Taliban the Americans change their policy not to. Do we now realise their double games and the fact that they intend to just create problems for Pakistan.
First they have to find him or may be there is a secret deal. Who knows.
Sane decision from the US. The fewer your enemies, the easier your life becomes. The taliban are only interested in running their madrassahs and tenting their women in burqas. They don't have any ambitions for over running the US.
really good news. takes pressure off the gop and isi.
A good step towards peace. They were Afghan locals and they never pose any threat to any other state. So targeting them was wrong. If Americans have understood this I think this should be appreciated.
US is the greatest coward in the whole world. And selfish at that.
@Ramesh What it means is "Now Mullah Umar's days are numbered". Soon he will be off the list.
So, this is the 13 years long accomplishment of USA...did USA tame Taliban and having agreements with a civilized group or USA itself turned to be devil......I am confused somebody help .....
Pseudo Liberals should also admit and say that 9-11 was a False-Flag. It is a defamation of Islam and if the jewish ADL can stand up to speak against their defamation, why are our liberals and politicians so quiet ??!!
Hide and seek game between USA and Pakistan,
Mullah Umar was never a threat to US>Why did they bothered him earlier too
Then why did they attack them in 2003, stirred up a hornet's net for Pakistan and Afghanistan and are now withdrawing to let them clean the mess? This is what the Imperialists always do..India/ Pakistan, Palestine/ Israel, Cyprus / Turkey.. and latterly Liibya, Syria, Iraq in flames.
@Javed "US had given ample number of chances to Pakistan to participate in irradiation of terrorists" I don't recall any terrorist being irradiated so far. But it may not be a bad idea.
@Javed Ae you sure, you don't know, you are also confused, that, who created them with a little help from Pakistan ?
Who gained or still gains by supporting Terrorists? Understand that first before commenting.
a clear vindication USA does not keen in putting an end to Talibans............... never mind, we will do it alone Inshallah.