| Summary: | Stalemate has been reached in the war in Afghanistan and the time to begin the political process to end the fighting is now, according to this report. Co-opting the Taliban to join the regime in Kabul is unlikely to bring peace; reconciliation with all the insurgents will eventually require a broader political framework to end the war. International involvement will be necessary, and the withdrawal of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force will almost certainly be an essential component of a settlement. Enforcing a settlement will most likely require UN peacekeeping troops, and winning the peace will require the active involvement of international institutions and development agencies, particularly the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. In addition, the involvement of Pakistan and other neighbors of Afghanistan will be essential.
|
|---|
