Why Taliban would talk as U.S. withdrawal looms
By Nic Robertson, CNN

(CNN) -- The United States will have its first formal meeting with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday, a source close to the talks who did not want to be named told CNN.

Meanwhile, the Taliban told reporters in Doha that they want to improve relations with the world. CNN's Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson explains what's happening and why now.

What are we talking about?

The Taliban will open an office in Qatar and begin talks there with Afghan and U.S. officials to end the fighting in Afghanistan.

Taliban talks announced

Is there a grand bargain to be had?

International representatives close to the process in the past have told me [more...]

Full story: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/18/world/asia/taliban-talks-qa/index.html

-- CNN 2013-06-19

The answer is relatively easy, the US government will offer money in return for the Taliban turning up to talk.

time to end the war in Afghanistan so lets buy off the Talibanis......we got other fish to fry in Syria then Iran.....got to keep the arms manufacturers profits rolling in

hang on have they not just said the killed 4 americans?? Great way to start talks there now..

They need to get as many Taliban together in an effort to start talks and preferably with Mullah Omar in attendance. At prayer time everyone should respectfully leave the room and allow them enough time to carry out their rituals.

Once outside give the signal for Mr. Drone to attend and run as fast as possible!

Racist and troll posts deleted.

This gesture to talk is nothing more than a mirage . The Taliban are very fragmented and highly influenced by Pakistan. Many are loosing their will to continue. No merit in these talks unless the Americans take a very hard nosed stance on what they will consider as acceptable demands but that is doubtful in the light of their past record..

It is indeed time to end this futile and stupid war however, if the US does not take a firm position then there will have been so much blood lost for so little. The history of the US in foreign wars.

time to end the war in Afghanistan so lets buy off the Talibanis......we got other fish to fry in Syria then Iran.....got to keep the arms manufacturers profits rolling in

Might want to recruit Taliban for terror acts in Syria, that's killing 2 birds with one stone. No, 3, profits, Syria, and they can't do mischief in Afghanistan while absent. Should be easy to win over for the job, just saying 'look, your old mates of Al Queda are already there'.

Many reports the Taliban leaders based in Quetta and the Haqqani are managed by the Pakistani ISI, even at the operational level. Nothings is going to happen without Pakistani agreement.

No surprises here,all Wars have to end with both sides talking to each other.

I thought the US govt didn't negotiate with terrorists.

Perhaps the US govt does so when it is getting it's ass handed to them.

I thought the US govt didn't negotiate with terrorists.

Perhaps the US govt does so when it is getting it's ass handed to them.

If Pakistan did not provide safe haven, funding, weapons and training for Taliban and Haqqani leaders and fighters they would have been largely wiped out by NATO forces. Adding to this, US domestic political pressure you have a no win situation.

This "Peace and reconciliation" milestone comes after the US drops the request for a formal rejection of Al Qaida as a precondition of talks. Seeing as the US are arming and backing Al Qaida in Syria the demand must have seemed a bit churlish! I just feel sorry for the overwhelming majority of Afghan citizens who believed that the US were there to help them. Within a year the American people will probably believe that the Taliban are US allies and the US troops were in Afghanistan to fight Karzai and the Afghan army.