"It's important that Afghanistan doesn't burn bridges with Pakistan & the Quetta Shura Taliban, the peace process is important, & needs to be pursued"

Afghanistan Halts Taliban Peace Initiative - WSJ.com: "The U.S. has been actively aiding Mr. Karzai in his efforts to secure a peace deal that could make it easier for America and its allies to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan and end major combat operations within two years. Civilian casualties have risen to record levels this year—2,120 in the first eight months—according to the United Nations, with the Taliban-led insurgency responsible for three-quarters of the deaths and injuries.

The Karzai administration's attempts to pressure Pakistan follow weeks of increased criticism from Washington, where top U.S. officials have accused the ISI of supporting recent attacks on American targets in Afghanistan.

Kabul's new strategy has created concern among some Western officials working in the region who don't want to see the peace process derailed entirely.

"It's important that Afghanistan doesn't burn bridges with Pakistan and the Quetta Shura Taliban," said one Western diplomat in Kabul. "The peace process is important, and needs to be pursued.It is clear that, first and foremost, Pakistan must to do its own share in addressing the sanctuaries and helping Afghanistan and the international community to deal with the insurgency.""

Note:

KABUL—Afghan President Hamid Karzai has decided to suspend efforts to begin direct talks with the Taliban, turning his attention to cutting a deal with Pakistan, officials said, as Kabul alleged on Sunday that the killer of its top peace envoy was a Pakistani. Mr. Karzai, who had made negotiations with the Taliban leadership a top priority, is expected to outline his revised strategy this week in a nationally televised address, as he looks for new ways to bring a decade of war to an end. (pls click link above for complete article)
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