Taliban call for joint panel with UN, Nato

Nato and the United Nations are cautiously considering a Taliban proposal to set up a joint commission to investigate allegations of civilians being killed in the conflict in Afghanistan, diplomats in Kabul said.

Nato and the United Nations are cautiously considering a Taliban proposal to set up a joint commission to investigate allegations of civilians being killed in the conflict in Afghanistan, diplomats in Kabul said.

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The Taliban overture, which was posted on its site, will revive a debate about conducting any formal talks with the insurgents.

The Taliban statement called for setting up of a body including members from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, UN human rights investigators, Nato and the Taliban.

“The stated committee should [be] given a free hand to survey the affected areas as well as people in order to collect the precise information...” the Taliban said.

The UN and Nato are treading carefully, but western diplomats say the proposal is being considered. One said that some officers at the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force were keen on the idea but that no steps could be taken until it was considered “at the highest political level”.