Behind the scenes peace talks with leaders of the Taliban have effectively come to an end as the result of activities by Pakistan’s security forces.

Listen to an interview with Rahul Bedi from Jane’s Defence Weekly

Secret channel of communications
According to the former head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, the arrest of several Taliban leaders in Pakistan may have hardened the insurgents’ attitudes and stopped a secret channel of communication with the United Nations.

Mr Eide, who stepped down this month, accused Pakistan of pursuing its own aims in the region. He believes that Pakistan wanted to end peace talks between the Taliban and UN representatives because it was not in control.

Demand for homeland
Defence expert Rahul Bedi from Jane’s Defence Weekly told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that Pakistan is worried that any dealings with the Taliban could create unrest along its border with Afghanistan. Bedi says:

“There is fear in Pakistan that the Pashtun or the Patan population would demand a separate homeland. That is one fear that is driving a lot of the Pakistani reactions towards wanting control over Afghanistan.”

Quetta Shura
Contact with the Taliban began in spring 2009. Eide and his team met senior Taliban leaders and officials who had the authority of the group’s ruling council, the Quetta Shura. In January, a meeting took place in Dubai, after an international conference in London.

Eide says that talks effectively dried up several weeks ago after more than a dozen prominent Taliban members were held in joint US-Pakistan operations. Among those captured in the southern Pakistan city of Karachi was the Taliban’s military commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

Pakistan denies trying to undermine the talks with the Taliban.