Khalilzad
Michael Hughes: As relations between Iran and Afghanistan grow warmer, the U.S. has put efforts to boost ties with the Taliban into overdrive. The FBI removed Haqqani Network bounties and diplomatic rapprochement is in full swing. Ex-envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is suddenly back on the scene – no doubt in a bid to ensure the radical movement does not get too cozy with the mullahs in Tehran.
I recently thought the Trump and Taliban 2.0 administrations were headed for a divorce. The Taliban said the Doha deal was dead, and Trump warned the radical movement he wanted America’s weapons and equipment returned. At the time it was hard to see why Trump needed to gain leverage on Kabul outside of occasional prisoner swaps. Now it is becoming clearer that perhaps there really is a method to Trump’s madness. Click here to read more.
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