Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley met with Taliban negotiators in Doha on Thursday, engaging as intra-Afghan talks are on hold for consultations.
Gen. Milley emphasized the need for the Taliban to reduce violence, which is the Ghani government’s primary goal. Ghani was using the lack of violence reduction as a talking point in his own comments on the process.
Yet for all they push the Taliban, the violence is surging in both directions, and neither side is going to be able to unilaterally lower it while the other side keeps attacking. Keeping the violence level up a bit probably is in Ghani’s interest as it gives him something to complain about.
The US is trying to use its drawdown as leverage in these side talks, but the demands are so simplistic that they probably won’t amount to anything until the two sides get back together to discuss the ceasefire.
There’s not much to negotiate; the Taliban knows Trump is gone in a stolen election, and that Gen. Milley has been escalating against them in anticipation of Trump’s departure.
The General has no mandate, no respect, and all deals with the Lame Duck are understood to be off.
The Taliban aren’t going to surrender. Whether America leaves or escalates, they will fight on.