THE OPENING of Afghan peace negotiations over the weekend came six months later than planned and was accompanied by continuing violence around the country and low expectations for early progress. Yet the meeting of a Taliban delegation and one headed by the Afghan government nevertheless is a welcome breakthrough after two decades of war. It offers hope that a political settlement is possible — provided the United States and other Afghan allies remain stalwart.
For years, the Taliban refused any contact with the Afghan administrations that followed the overthrow of their Islamist dictatorship by a U.S.-led coalition. Afghan governments, for their part, insisted that the rebels must first accept the constitution, with its enshrinement of democratic elections and rights for women, before joining peace talks. Read More…
