U.S. Scrambles To Save Taliban Talks After Afghan Backlash -- New York Times
KABUL, Afghanistan — In a bid to regain control of a peace process with the Taliban that had suddenly spun out of control, President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday slammed the brakes on two strategic lines of American negotiation, again exercising his power in a strained alliance and getting results.
Mr. Karzai reacted in fury after an apparent diplomatic breakthrough on Tuesday — the opening of a Taliban peace office in Qatar — instead became a publicity coup for the Taliban. In televised images that horrified many Afghans, the Taliban introduced what appeared to be an embassy, raising their flag, speaking in front of a sign declaring the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” the name of their former government, and seeking international exposure.
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Update #1: US-Taliban talks stumble before they even start -- AFP
Update #2: Taliban talks in disarray over name dispute -- Al Jazeera
My Comment: There appears to be a major breakdown in communications between U.S. and Afghan officials on coordinating strategy on dealing with the Taliban. The fact that the Taliban are refusing to even consider talking with the Afghan government also does not help. My betting is that these talks are dead even before they are starting.
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