The Evolving Politics of Taliban Reintegration and Reconciliation in Afghanistan

The subject assumes significance in view of the politics evolving around the idea of negotiating peace, especially with the Taliban, as the West plans to withdraw bulk of their troops by 2014. Though often regarded as flawed, ill-timed, regressive, wobbly, dangerous and unworkable, the idea has nevertheless come to dominate the discourse on the Afghan war. However, principal Afghan opposition forces and networks operating from Pakistan continue to publicly rebuff and mock at the government’s initiative. This article exclusively focuses on the reconciliation efforts aimed at the Taliban and not towards other Afghan insurgent groups such as the Haqqani network and the Hezb-e Islami (Hekmatyar).