Letters- Guardian.co.uk
Concerns over terrorism and the Taliban
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The Guardian, Friday 8 October 2010
Article historyThere are a number of deeply disturbing issues about the reports that Abdul Jabbar, a British citizen killed in a US drone strike in north Waziristan, was to lead a British terrorist cell (Drone killed British Taliban plotter, reports say, 6 October). First, the suggestion that he was to lead a terrorist cell in the UK appears to come from one unnamed "senior Pakistani security source". It is of great concern that a single unnamed source, who, it could be argued, has a vested interest in justifying the death of Mr Jabbar and raising fears about terrorism, has such an influence on the media. But perhaps even more disturbing is the fact that the execution of a British citizen accused of being involved in terrorist activity without any due legal process seems acceptable to many in the media and beyond.
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The Guardian, Friday 8 October 2010
Article historyThere are a number of deeply disturbing issues about the reports that Abdul Jabbar, a British citizen killed in a US drone strike in north Waziristan, was to lead a British terrorist cell (Drone killed British Taliban plotter, reports say, 6 October). First, the suggestion that he was to lead a terrorist cell in the UK appears to come from one unnamed "senior Pakistani security source". It is of great concern that a single unnamed source, who, it could be argued, has a vested interest in justifying the death of Mr Jabbar and raising fears about terrorism, has such an influence on the media. But perhaps even more disturbing is the fact that the execution of a British citizen accused of being involved in terrorist activity without any due legal process seems acceptable to many in the media and beyond.
Chris Cole
Oxford
• As you suggest, conflict resolution in Afghanistan will require careful negotiation (Editorial, 7 October), but the signs so far are not promising. The Afghan government recently named a 70-person "peace council", which is supposed to negotiate with elements of the Taliban. Ominously, the peace council is largely made up of former mujahideen and warlords allegedly responsible for multiple human rights abuses. Some are accused of massacring civilians during the civil war of the 1990s; some are notorious for their persecution for women. In short, the peace council has all the appearance of a rogues' gallery. President Karzai should immediately set up an independent team that would debar anyone from serving on the council if they face credible allegations of human rights violations. Mr Karzai recently shed public tears for Afghanistan's future. This will unfortunately mean little to the Afghan people if negotiating with the Taliban means turning a blind eye to human rights abuse.
Kate Allen
Director, Amnesty International U K (guardian.co.uk)
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