While the Pakistani media were reporting on Friday that a deal was in
place to host the next round of Afghan peace talks in Istanbul, the Taliban was quick to correct the record over the weekend, saying that they have no intention of taking part in these talks.
Talks between the US and Taliban have been on a rough footing, with US
requests for long-term bases in post-war Afghanistan angering
negotiators, as the previous condition was a US pullout.
Which might’ve been reason enough that the Taliban were reticent to get
back on board with direct talks with Zalmay Khalilzad, though Taliban
officials say it is the plan to include the Afghan government that is
derailing it.
The Taliban has long insisted that there is no point to include the
Afghan government in the talks, because they are not able to meet any
demands. The US has at times insisted Afghan participation is essential,
though recent talk has been that the US was planning to offer the
Taliban representation in a new Afghan government.
Well, nothing new here…
Smart people, those Taliban. Besides, who’d trust Zalmay Khalilzad!
All the Taliban wants is for the US to get out… but our policy wonks don’t want that to ever happen, for some inexplicable reason. Oh yeah, plans for war or credible threats of it towards Russia and China.
We’re so arrogant that we think we hold all the cards. The Taliban is calling our bluff.
The Taliban suspect united states citizens are equally enthusiastic about building bases in Afghanistan as they are to building up the Ukrainian navy. Especially when military planners themselves are not sure if social security and medicare cuts can pay for it.
The united states also wants to build bases in Brasil. Perhaps the Taliban are in tune with the rest of the world in draining the united states as dry as a withered up old soviet onion.
Pentagonians are pushing for death of the US by a thousand bites.