Talking with the Taliban: Easier Said Than Done

There are those who say it's the fastest way out of Afghanistan. But it's easier said than done

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad / Reportage / Getty

Some Taliban fighters relax in a compound in the district of Chardarah, near the norther city of Kunduz.

Abdul Jameel was ready for peace. The commander of a small group of Taliban fighters in the province of Wardak, Afghanistan, Jameel was able to persuade his men to surrender to the government in exchange for amnesty and the chance to return to a life of farming or shopkeeping. But he never got that chance. Just weeks after he approached the government, Jameel and several members of his family were gunned down. It is unclear if the Taliban killed him or if old rivals were seeking revenge. Nevertheless, Jameel's story — which quickly spread around the province — provided a potent...

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