The “fighting season” has started in Afghanistan, with deadly attacks almost every day. But at the same time, diplomats see what one calls “hopeful signs” that a regional framework for peace talks with the Taliban may slowly be emerging. The most important development is that Germany has been mediating secret talks between the U.S. government and Tayyab Agha, a Taliban official who in the past has had close links with the group’s leader, Mohammad Omar . The German-sponsored talks were disclosed Tuesday in Der Spiegel and confirmed to me by a well-informed U.S. source. Read full article > >

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Positive signs in Afghanistan

The Obama administration has entered into direct, secret talks with senior Afghan Taliban leaders, according to New Yorker columnist Steve Coll’s report in the Feb. 28 issue. Several sources who have been briefed about the talks informed Coll last week…

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Obama Admin in Secret Talks With Afghan Taliban

An impostor posing as a top Taliban commander held secret talks with Afghan officials, was paid a lot of money and then disappeared, report US media.

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Taliban impostor ‘dupes Afghans’

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Taliban representatives have begun secret talks to negotiate an end to the war, according to Afghan and Arab sources. This is the first time the two groups have talked since discussions in Saudi Arabia broke down…

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Sources: Karzai, Taliban in Secret Talks