Afghanistan: is hope real?

[pakistani342]

Article on HE Munir Akram on Dawn here, excerpts below:

A failure to bring the Taliban to the table could be blamed on Pakistan by its already vocal detractors in Kabul, Washington and New Delhi. The tensions of the recent past could be revived. Civil war could return to Afghanistan and terrorism could continue to blight Pakistan.

Recent positive developments do not mean the Great Game involving Afghanistan is over. Some of the players may have changed but the contest for influence over this strategically located country goes on. Durable peace in and around Afghanistan will require a strategic consensus between the factions within Afghanistan, its immediate neighbours — Pakistan, Iran, China, Central Asia and Russia — as well as the US and its allies. So far, no endeavour has been made by any of the principal players to evolve such a broad consensus.

 

[That Guy]

If they fail, then Pakistan will simply carry out it's threat and target the Afghan taliban leadership, it's as simple as that.

The talks must succeed if the Afghani taliban want any place at the table of power. It is only through negotiations that they will save themselves.