To the table

摘要

A ruse of diplomatic activity in the capitals of Pakistan, Afghanistan and beyond brings hopes that the Afghan Taliban may yet be brought into peace talks. Years of manoeuvring and diplomatic platitudes appear, in the past few weeks, to be giving way to something more encouraging. Only in March, an effort in Qatar to begin dialogue between the United States and the Taliban collapsed before it had started. Suddenly, however, there is new optimism.