It seems like karzai is this time proceeding with his Taliban negotiation strategy, western sources have learned that members of the Taliban's leadership council have used go-betweens to negotiate their defection.
the plan seems to be international support or drafted. The British government has thrown its backing behind the strategy to split the Taliban.
At the same time, however, British officials have concluded that the Taliban is too deep-rooted to be eradicated by military means. Following a wide-ranging policy review accompanying Gordon Brown's arrival in
The Taliban leadership, which is under the influence of foreign al-Qaida fighters, is thought to be vehemently opposed to talks. In a message released on Friday the group's leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, rebuffed an offer of talks from Mr Karzai.
Some worry the talks are a Taliban stalling tactic at a time of intense military pressure. "Everyone on the ground thinks they've had a real effect this year and they want to keep the pressure up through the winter," said a Nato official. "It's in the Taliban's interests to appear more conciliatory when they're under pressure."
