Top Taliban leaders are offered safe passage into exile and their names would be dropped from the United Nations sanction list if they sever their "links with al-Qaida." Fighters who lay down their weapons will not face prosecution and will be protected from persecution. With the help of comprehensive job programs, the former Taliban militants are to be trained to work developing the national highway system and on infrastructure projects, or as members of a civil emergency response unit to provide relief in natural disasters such as floods or landslides.
But instead of negotiating directly with the leaders, the Americans prefer, at least for the time being, to "reintegrate" only foot soldiers and local leaders. They prefer to negotiate with Taliban chiefs from a position of strength that would be achieved, at the soonest, after the summer offensive in Kandahar.
"The Afghan Taliban no longer insist to govern, but they want to negotiate directly with the Americans. The puppet Karzai must go, the Western military must withdraw, sharia must be implemented and a shura with representatives from across the country led by Mullah Omar must be convened," Hamid Gul, the former head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) told SPIEGEL, describing the prerequisites for a cease-fire.
Nevertheless, a delegation of Hekmatyar's Hezb-i-Islami, led by his son-in-law Baheer, made an initial peace offer to Karzai in March. In a 15-page program, which SPIEGEL has also obtained, the group calls for the "complete withdrawal" of Western troups within six months, starting in July 2010, as well as new elections and the release of all political prisoners.
In exchange, they are offering a cease-fire and the breaking-off of ties with al-Qaida fighters. Now the possibility is being discussed of Hekmatyar going into exile in Saudi Arabia for a few years and Baheer being appointed as a minister in Karzai's cabinet.
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