Germany"s Defence Minister spoke out Sunday in favour of peace talks with the moderate wing of the Taliban to ease the Afghan crisis, DPA reported. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg"s stance may indicate a change of emphasis in German policy, which has previously opposed dealings with the Taliban - despite reports that Britain and other allies have quietly urged Kabul to open communications with non-terrorist Taliban leaders. "Each rebel is not an equal threat to western society," said Guttenberg in an interview printed by the newspaper Welt am Sonntag. Guttenberg said he approved keeping communications open to the different enthnic groups and tribes in Afghanistan, provided the allies did not fall into a trap. "I no longer believe the sole rule is to cut off all forms of communication, but certain criteria must still be applied," he said.
