Afghanistan is a burial ground for dying empires, USA included. The primary reason we are over there (which the USA does not advertise) is to keep the Taliban away from Pakistans nuclear arsenal. Everything else is a distant second.
They have a relationship with Pakistan, particularly the intelligence service there. There are other groups in Pakistan that they share affilliations with. One of the worst things we did was get Pakistan involved in the war when we started over there in October 2001. Pakistani politics is worse than Washington's and we cannot mediate that. John McCain had said when the US wanted Osama they should have just send in spec ops and not started shooting and bombing everyone in sight in Afghanistan to pressure them to give him up.
The US needs cooperation from the Taliban to stop fighting in Afghanistan and for them to sit down and speak with Ghani and other governmental factions to find some common ground, and make some concessions. Neither side will get everything they want, life just does not work that way.
Plus you have an added problem, 30-40% of the population in Tehran is believed to be heading for coronavirus infections. Iran shares a border with Afghanistan and some other dubious alliances.
It is bad all the way around.
There was a 2 hr. Meeting today via Skype between US envoy Zalmay Khalizad and the Taliban political office. There will be another discussion/meeting in 2 days.
[Radio Free Liberty reports]
Trump sent Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State to Kabul earlier this week and also to Doha. Afghan President Ghani will release some Taliban by or on March 30th. Peace deal still alive. Than you for your service Mr. Secretary, he's pretty good with diplomacy.
