Even when the Taliban talk peace, they make war. Discussions in Doha, Qatar, have not stopped their attacks in Afghanistan. One killed a U.S. serviceman Saturday. A July 7 car bomb killed at least 14 people and wounded more than 180, including scores of children. This talk-and-shoot approach reflects the Taliban鈥檚 belief that the talks concern only the orderly withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. That won鈥檛 do. The U.S. should now suspend talks with the Taliban to drive home the point that peace, not simply withdrawal, is America鈥檚 goal.
The two sides seem to have been working at cross-purposes since the negotiations began last October. Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. special envoy for Afghan reconciliation, described the goal of his first meeting with Taliban representatives as exploring the prospect of 鈥渁 peaceful Afghanistan where all Afghans see themselves included.鈥� The Taliban insisted in their statement that the talks were about 鈥渢he end of occupation and a peaceful resolution for the Afghan issue.鈥�
After eight rounds of direct talks, and several side meetings aimed at facilitating dialogue among Afghan political factions, the Taliban鈥檚 stance on the scope of discussions remains the same.
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