Endgame in Afghanistan

India should be pragmatic in the wake of US withdrawal

Little hope should be placed on the reassuring words from the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation on the fruitful progress of talks between the US government and the Taliban in Doha. All indications suggest that it is the extremist outfit that holds all the cards — principally because US President Donald Trump has openly revealed his desperation to withdraw troops from that country. The US is said to have agreed to the Taliban’s demand to withdraw foreign forces. In return, the Taliban has agreed not to host any international terrorist groups (Al Qaeda or ISIS, for instance) or allow