Hamid Karzai said he would guarantee the security of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar if he decided to enter into talks. Omar (of the Hotak tribe) ruled the country until 2001. The US has offered a multimillion dollar reward for his capture. The tribe of President Karzai is the Popalzai and while he is the most famous Popalzai in Afghanistan Abdul Ghani Baradar is considered key to Afghanistan’s future. Baradar was Minister of Defence in the Taliban government prior to 2001. The relationship between the two Popalzai men goes back a long way. Popalzais are more loyal to their own tribe than to the regime in Kabul or the Taliban - tribal contacts are more important than ideology. Prior to his detention in Pakistan Mullah Baradar attempted to establish peace negotiations between Kabul’s administration and Taliban’s inner circle of leaders. Mullah Baradar is currently on a list of Taliban prisoners that the Pakistani government is talking about releasing for some influence in return.

Pray: that God’s will would be done in the midst of all that is happening and that it will result in peace for the region. (Mat.6:10)

More: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/17/afghanistan-taliban