JEDDAH: A group of international representatives is holding a meeting tomorrow Thursday at the head offices of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Jeddah to discuss a range of political issues related to dialogue between the Karzai government and the Taliban movement. The 120 officials from 50 countries and organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union, will also discuss peace and security in Afghanistan and prepare a strategy for the period after the withdrawal of American forces. Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other OIC member nations have been invited. Marc Grossman, the US emissary to Afghanistan and Pakistan will also take part in the meeting as one of his first tasks since being appointed to the post after the death of former emissary Richard Holbrooke. US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said that Grossman would begin his first foreign tour in London before proceeding to Jeddah and then on to Kabul and Islamabad before ending it in Brussels. The Afghan delegation will be led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Zalmai Rassoul, who comes accompanied by Burhanuddin Rabbani, Chairman of the Afghani Dialogue Council. Afghan sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that Zalmai would present an extensive report to the communications committee on the security and political situations and the phase of dialogue reached between the Karzai government and the Taliban movement. The sources denied that any senior Taliban would be in attendance at the meeting. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the OIC, will speak at the opening of the meeting on the OIC's increasing role in Afghanistan since the opening of its office in Kabul and the appointment of Munir-uz-Zaman as special envoy of the OIC secretary general to Afghanistan. Sources said the meeting would also address elections and corruption in the political process taking place in Kabul.
