Efforts to end America's 12-year war in Afghanistan are on shakier ground than ever. When the US arranged talks in Qatar between the Taliban and Afghanistan's current government, President Obama called it "an important first step in reconciliation." Then the Taliban opened an office in Qatar called, "The Political Office of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," the name they used when they ruled the country. President Karzai said he would not attend after the Taliban started behaving like a former government with plans to return to power. Are the Taliban running out the clock, taking advantage of President Obama's announced plan to withdraw troops by 2015? How much are the conflicting agendas of Pakistan and India adding to the diplomatic confusion? We hear a variety of opinions.
On-Again, Off-Again Talks with the Taliban
Credits
Guests:
- Ahmed Rashid - Pakistani journalist
- Alissa Johannsen Rubin - New York Times - @alissanyt
- Sarah Chayes - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - @CarnegieEndow
- Vanda Felbab-Brown - Brookings Institution - @VFelbabBrown