World conference on Afghanistan: Taliban having no link with al Qaeda would be invited: German MPs

Pakistan's contribution would be important for the success of International Conference on Afghanistan to be held at Bonn on December 10, 2011. This was stated by the visiting German members of parliament of main opposition Social Democratic Party while speaking at a press conference here on Friday.
The German parliamentarians' delegation led by MP Rainer Arnold and comprising MPs Mrs Karin Evers Meyer, Walter Kolbow and Johannes Andreas has earlier visited Islamabad where it held meeting with Pakistani civil and military leadership. "We have discussed the Afghanistan situation with Pakistan political and military leadership in Islamabad," they said. They said Germany will invite those Pakistan and Taliban leaders who gave up violence and have no connection with al Qaeda. The other countries including the United States, Nato and the EU member states would also be invited to the conference.
They pointed out that Afghan president Hamid Karzai will preside over this conference. Rainer Arnold said Pakistan is an important country for Germany and they believe that success in Afghanistan is possible with the support of Pakistan.
He said it is high time that we hold negotiations with the Taliban who gave up violence and have no connection with al Qaeda. The German parliamentarian said the negotiation process has been initiated both at top and local levels. Taliban at lower level have shown some signs of co-operation, he added. He said if the United Nations lifts sanctions on Taliban leaders they will proceed positively to talks with Taliban. "We feel sad when our citizens die in Afghanistan," he said and added that German people are now thinking as to how to get out of Afghanistan. Presently 5000 German troops are in Afghanistan.