Karzai has long called on insurgents to renounce violence, sever ties to terrorists and embrace the Afghan Constitution. Contacts are increasing between the government and insurgents to find a political resolution to the conflict, which is key to any US exit strategy in Afghanistan.

“The Afghan people in each province, district and village are expecting a lot from this peace council,” Karzai said on the ninth anniversary of the war.

“The high peace council is a source of hope for the Afghan people,” he said, adding that the international community is supporting the 70-member panel.

Publicly, the Taleban have said they won’t negotiate until foreign troops leave the country, yet many Taleban leaders have reached out directly or indirectly to the highest levels of the Afghan government. There have been no formal negotiations yet between the Afghan government and the Taleban, only some contacts and signals from each side, according to Karzai’s spokesman, Waheed Omar.

Addressing the opposition, Karzai said, “Once again I want to call on them to use this opportunity and welcome this effort and join in bringing peace in this country.”

Efforts to reconcile with the Taleban are not supported by all Afghans. Leaders of ethnic minorities remain concerned that negotiating with the Taleban will open a path for the hard-line fundamentalist group to regain power. Others argue that the peace council, comprising many members who fought against the Taleban, will have little success in guiding any talks.

Karzai said the government will cooperate with and assist the council but it would operate independently.
 
8 Taleban killed

Meanwhile, an airstrike and a raid by ground troops killed eight insurgents, including a senior Taleban leader who spearheaded attacks against Afghan security forces, NATO said Thursday.

Maulawi Jawadullah — accused of organizing deadly ambushes, roadside bombings, and abductions of Afghan police and soldiers in northern Afghanistan — was killed in the airstrike Wednesday in Takhar province, an alliance statement said.

Jawadullah was linked to the recent deaths of 10 Afghan National Police officers during an attack on a police station in neighboring Kunduz province, it said.

Seven other Taleban also died in the assault, including three who opened fire from a forest when coalition forces moved in following the airstrike, NATO said.