Peace Talks

Susan Rice & Pakistan. U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice met with Pakistani leaders during a visit to the country a few weeks back to discuss efforts to revive peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The talks have been suspended since the news of the death of Mullah Omar broke. She also urged Pakistan to intensify its efforts to counter terrorist sanctuaries inside its border. Hmmmm. I wonder if she also added "Stop supporting the Taliban!". Likely not. Diplomats seem to be diplomatic when they should pound someone over the head with a hammer. Read more in "U.S. envoy discusses Afghan peace efforts on Pakistan visit", Military Times, August 30, 2015. Read also "US Wants Pakistan to Help Reduce Violence in Afghanistan", Voice of America, August 30, 2015.

Peace a Distant Dream. The future of Afghanistan is one without peace - the Taliban are unlikely to topple the Afghan government yet there is no sign of them abandoning the fight. The Afghan National Defense Security Forces (ANDSF) have proven incapable of defeating the Taliban. So peace is a long way away. For many of the Afghans escaping the violence means attempting to reach Europe to start a new life. Read "Peace remains a distant dream in Afghanistan", BBC News, September 4, 2015.

Lack of Mutual Trust? There appears to be a lack of mutual trust between Pakistan and Afghanistan. This is certainly a stumbling block in the resumption of peace talks. Read more in "No Sign When Afghan-Taliban Peace Talks Might Resume", Voice of America, September 7, 2015.

International Support Needed for Peace. M. Ashraf Haidari writes on prospects for peace for Afghanistan in "Elusive Peace in Post 9/11 Afghanistan", Foreign Policy, September 11, 2015.

Resuming Peace Talks? Afghanistan and Pakistan are talking about it. Pakistani officials are asking Afghan officials to resume peace talks with the Taliban. It has been a few months since the previous peace talks got suspended in the wake of the Mullah Omar death reports. Read more in "Pakistan, Afghanistan Weigh Resumption of Taliban Talks", Voice of America, September 3, 2015.