Afghanistan: The Taliban Tiptoe Toward Talks

As the war grinds on in Afghanistan, officials from both the Taliban and the Afghan government have begun to explore possible peace negotiations. A five-member Taliban delegation claiming to represent all factions of the insurgent group met with Afghan officials in Istanbul, Turkey from Jan. 13-15. Then, on Jan. 15, a three-member delegation from the Taliban's political office in Doha, Qatar visited Pakistan to reportedly meet with representatives of the National Islamic Front of Afghanistan political party. Official Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the idea that the Istanbul talks have anything to do with the insurgency. But Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban's supreme leader, is reported to have authorized the Doha delegation's visit to Pakistan....