An Afghan Peace Conference?

Kurt Beck made his surprising suggestion during his visit to Afghanistan at the weekend. He said there were new impulses to "sound out the possibility of holding another conference," which would possibly include members of the Islamist Taliban movement.

The SPD leader suggested Germany as a possible venue for such a meeting and appeared confident that the United States would be prepared to take part.

There have been three international conferences in Germany on the future of Afghanistan over the last six years. The last one took place in Berlin in 2004. None have included representatives of the Taliban.

Cautious response

Beck's idea was backed by Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who on Tuesday for Berlin to host an Afghan peace conference where Taliban moderates could discuss terms with the Kabul authorities.

SPD politician Rolf Mützenich also praised the idea, saying that a conference involving members of the Taliban was necessary to bring stability to the country. He also noted that Afghan president Hamid Karzai was in favor of a meeting of this kind.

But Eckart von Klaeden, foreign affairs expert for the conservative Union bloc, reacted sceptically. He told the German daily Berliner Zeitung that the idea was "not particularly well thought through."

Von Klaeden also expressed concern that inviting the Taliban to take part in such a conference "would increase their international status and damage the authority of the elected government of Hamid Karzai."

Smokescreen?

Beck's proposal comes as Germany begins its controversial deployment of Tornado jets to Afghanistan and some critics have accused the SPD leader of mounting smokescreen tactics.

On Monday, the jets set off from a base in northern Germany. They will provide reconnaissance assistance to ISAF peacekeeping troops in the conflict-ridden southern part of Afghanistan ahead of an expected spring offensive by militants.

In March, the German parliament approved the mission to send six planes and some 200 military personnel. A last-minute challenge by the Left Party to stop the deployment was not successful.

Surveillance operation

Under the mandate, German pilots will pass on intelligence to NATO commanders but will not engage in any combat operations. Some opposition members say the mission will inevitably lead to the Germans being dragged into fighting.

The differences underscore a divide among Germans over the country's military role after more than 50 years of pacifism in the wake of World War Two.

The Tornado mission brings Germany's commitment in Afghanistan to about 3,400 personnel, including troops, pilots and technical staff. But most of them are based in northern Afghanistan and are engaged in reconstruction efforts.

Afghanistan has seen an increase in violence in recent months. Almost 4,000 people were killed in 2006, the bloodiest year since US-led forces drove the Taliban militia from power.