This initiative, after so many stops and starts, no doubt comes in the backdrop of US Defence Secretary James Mattis’ coming visit to Pakistan. Washington continues to think beating the Taliban on the field is the only way of arm twisting them into talks. Pakistan, on the other hand, is still advocating engaging whichever Taliban groups are willing to talk while fighting the rest. If the government does not play its cards right this time, it risks being sidelined from the Afghan process altogether. Plus, our ties with America do not just revolve around the Afghan factor, though it has become central in recent years.

Source: Pakistan Today December 04, 2017 03:00 UTC