August 29, 2018
Ex-Pentagon Adviser: US-Taliban Talks an ‘Icebreaker’
The United States and the Taliban are reported to be in the early stages of discussions for the first time since 2012. Retired U.S. Army Colonel Christopher Kolenda, who fought in Afghanistan and later served as a senior Pentagon adviser, was instrumental in helping set up those talks — in part through his own discussion with Taliban officials in Qatar. He spoke with VOA’s William Gallo about where he sees the peace process going, especially in light of a recent surge in violence. This interview was condensed for clarity.
William Gallo: How would you characterize the current U.S.-Taliban talks?
Christopher Kolenda: We’ve had a situation in which each of the three main parties — the Afghan government, the Taliban, and the United States — have all been wanting talks but have put conditions on starting talks that the other side can’t meet.
So this effort for a conversation between the U.S. government and the Taliban, which has happened in full coordination with the Afghan government, is meant as an icebreaker to lead to a negotiating process in which the Taliban and the Afghan government begin discussions about the political future of Afghanistan. Because only Afghans can solve that.
Gallo: Is there any indication these talks have moved into more advanced stages?
Kolenda: Not to my knowledge. It seems there was a discussion and then things are on hold a bit. There’s rumored to be another round of U.S.-Taliban talks in Doha in early September.
Read the Full Interview at Voice of America
More from CNAS
-
Iran is trying to score a political win against the US: Expert
Video
By "isolating" the U.S. from the other countries in the nuclear deal, Iran is winning politically but losing economically, says Ilan Goldenberg of Center for a New American Se...
By Ilan Goldenberg
-
Sanctions Alone Won’t Alter Iran’s Behavior in the Middle East
Commentary
The U.S. Treasury Department recently designated a network of 22 Iranian businesses as supporters of terrorism, including several banks and major commodities companies, imposi...
By Kaleigh Thomas
-
Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder Hurt American Interests, Not Just American Values
Commentary
Most observers have seen the murder of Jamal Khashoggi as the latest example of an age-old tension in U.S. foreign policy: the pursuit of national interests versus the defense...
By Richard Fontaine
-
Ilan Goldenberg on Israel Policy Forum Podcast
Podcast
Ilan Goldenberg, Israel Policy Forum's Policy Adviser and a Senior Fellow and Director at the Center for a New American Security's Middle East Security Program joins Evan Gott...
By Ilan Goldenberg
