One of the least popular decisions facing those engaged in Afghanistan (and Pakistan) is, how, if and when do we negotiate with the Taliban?
The idea sounds like political death. And extremely distasteful. How do you negotiate with a band of terrorists who seem to have no "off' switch, who take no account of human rights, international diplomacy, or indeed the 21st Century? And who wants to give them legitimacy by sitting round a table figuring out the way forward?
Increasingly the international community is saying that it has to be. If there is to be an end to the war in Afghanistan (and Pakistan) negotiation is inevitable.
In Nic Robertson's interview with the Afghan Taliban representative aired this week on CNN, Zabiullah Mujahid seemed to be openly courting a negotiation even though he couched in terms not usually associated with negotiation (See interview here).
"We ask them to leave the country; we are ready to talk. So if they are not ready to leave and they want to talk by the mouth of the gun, we will talk by the mouth of the gun."
But retired Pakistani General, Talat Masood, told the Washington Times this week that negotiating with the Taliban is a "waste of time."
"[Taliban leaders] do not accept constitution of Pakistan, democracy of Pakistan. How can one talk with them?" he said.
The Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta has ruled out any sort of negotiations with insurgents without disarmament. He is also critical of current international discussions about negotiation. "If foreign countries who have come to help us want to hand over Afghanistan to armed enemies, then it's better they leave our country."
It's easy to conclude that the Taliban are incapable of negotiation and that any agreement will be shot to pieces within a short time.
But discussion and engagement is now on the agenda and after eight years of this terrible war, it might be time to drag out the negotiating table.
