Taliban Peace Talks

According to Reuters, “Taliban officials attend a diplomatic conference in Russia for the first time on Friday, but reaffirmed their stance that they would only hold direct talks on Afghanistan’s future with the United States, not with the Kabul government.”

Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.

Download the PowerPoint Lecture Spark for Taliban Peace Talks

Links

“Afghanistan war: Taliban attend landmark peace talks in Russia”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-46155189

“Taliban: Russia meeting ‘not about direct talks’ with Kabul”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/afghanistan-peace-talks-moscow-progress-181109174823287.html

“No geopolitical games to be played in Afghanistan, says Russia as peace talks open”
http://www.uniindia.com/~/no-geopolitical-games-be-played-in-afghanistan-says-russia-as-peace-talks-open/World/news/1400897.html

“Taliban officials say they will attend Moscow peace talks”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-russia-taliban/taliban-officials-say-they-will-attend-moscow-peace-talks-idUSKCN1NA1IZ

“Afghan leaders, Taliban attend peace talks in Moscow”
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/afghan-leaders–taliban-attend-peace-talks-in-moscow-10913368

“The ‘Father of the Taliban’ is dead. What does that mean for the Afghan peace process?”
https://thediplomat.com/2018/11/the-father-of-the-taliban-is-dead-what-does-that-mean-for-the-afghan-peace-process/

“Afghan peace talks: India, Taliban in the same room was inevitable”
https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/india-afghanistan-taliban-peace-dialogue-moscow

“Should India talk to the Taliban?”
https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/should-india-talk-to-the-taliban-21322

“Opinion: The prospect of peace in Afghanistan”
https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d674d7841544e30457a6333566d54/share.html

“DNA Edit: Road To Econciliation – India takes steps in Afghanistan peace process”
https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/editorial-dna-edit-road-to-econciliation-india-takes-cautious-steps-in-afghanistan-peace-process-2684246

Assessment

• Writing: List the reasons for the new talks in Moscow to discuss peace in Afghanistan.
• Debate: The United States should engage in one-on-one talks with the Taliban.
• Poll: Do you believe the talks in Moscow might lead to a peace deal with the Taliban?
• Short Answer: Why might Russia be organizing peace talks in Afghanistan?

Current events quiz:

1) Al Qaeda is a _________ and the Taliban is a _________.

a. global terrorist movement with a focus on the United States; Pashtun political movement with a focus on Afghanista.
b. Pashtun political movement with a focus on Afghanistan; global terrorist movement with a focus on the United States
c. terrorist organization that mainly targets Christian countries; Islamic political movement with a focus on Afghanistan
d. Islamic political movement with a focus on Afghanistan; terrorist organization that mainly targets Christian countries; Islamic political movement with a focus on Afghanistan

2) The Taliban emerged in he early ________ in northern Pakistan following the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

a. 1980s
b. 1990s
c. 2000s
d. 2010s

3) The attention of the world was drawn to the Taliban after ________.

a. the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon on 9/11
b. the United States went to war in in Iraq
c. Osama Bin Laden was killed
d. All of these

4) The Taliban are represented at the peace talks which is the first time they have ever participated in an even such as this. (T/F)

5) At least 20 countries are participating in the talks. (T/F)

6) The talks are happening in Russia. (T/F)

Answers:

1) A

2) B

3) A

4) T

5) F

6) T

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