Reconciliation and COIN in Afghanistan

[davidbfpo]

Hat tip to Watandost for the pointer to an intriguing Indian commentary, that opens with:

The Taliban have reportedly agreed to open a representative office in Qatar. What is unclear is who are these ‘Taliban’. There is deafening silence in Pakistan, which should have been bestir with excitement that a defining moment has been reached in the Afghan endgame. The silence needs to be interpreted.

Not seen this leader being mentioned:

The crunch time comes when the Taliban’s former commander-in-chief Mullah Mohammed Fazl arrives in Qatar on a long tiring flight with mid-air refuelling from Guantanamo Bay.

Timing is important, especially for Europeans partners:

What is crystal clear is that the Barack Obama administration is in tearing hurry to take peace parleys to some visible point by the time the NATO summit is held in Chicago in May. Or else, it will become increasingly difficult to persuade the Europeans to take any more interest in the war at such a time when their own house is on fire.

Link:http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakuma...oost-in-qatar/