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Pak should ask Taliban to become tolerant: Inderfurth

Suman Guha Mozumder in New York

Former assistant secretary of state Karl Inderfurth has said that Islamic states like Pakistan that have recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan are best positioned to talk to the Taliban leaders to pursue a path of greater tolerance.

"Of particular importance among Muslim nations, he said, are the three that have recognised the Taliban as legitimate rulers, the only countries in the world to do so. These countries -- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- have leverage with the Taliban and could help improve conditions by making it clear that they would consider withdrawing their formal recognition if the Taliban continued their war on other religions," he said in an article published in the op-ed page of the New York Times on Wednesday.

Inderfurth said that given the Taliban's suspicion of the West, the more logical persuaders might be fellow Muslims and Islamic governments.

"They are in the best position to speak with the Taliban about the interpretation of their faith and of the Koran," he added.

Inderfurth noted that for some time the Islamic world has declined to condemn Taliban extremism, with Iran -- predominantly Shiite -- being the notable exception, he said.

But that silence was broken with the Taliban's assault on the Buddhist statues, he said

Muslim leaders from Turkey to Malaysia and across the Middle East criticised the Taliban's actions, he added.

He said Muslim political and religious leaders remain in a position to urge the Taliban to show respect for the diversity of Islam and the Koran in building a civil society that is religiously tolerant.

Although convincing the Taliban to become more tolerant and respectful of their own people, including women and girls, would not answer all the concerns of the international community about this movement, it would be a welcome beginning, he said.

Inderfurth said that he also saw a role for the United States and the international community in mitigating the sufferings of the people in Afghanistan.

The United States, he said, has committed $124 million in aid this year, making it the largest humanitarian donor to Afghanistan.

Quoting Secretary of State Colin Powell he said, "America must help the neediest wherever they may be."

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