Negotiating with the Taliban: Is Reconciliation Possible in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Michael Semple

Amid surging insurgent violence in Afghanistan, coalition forces in July have launched a large-scale counter-insurgency campaign in the south. At the same time, U.S. and coalition commanders have made clear that military might alone will not lay the foundations for long-term peace and stability.

USIP on July 10 hosted two panel discussions on the importance of creating conditions for long-term stability and the prospects of negotiating with the Taliban in the Afghanistan and Pakistan region.

In the first panel, “Reconciliation in Afghanistan,” USIP’s Alex Thier moderated a discussion with Michael Semple, author of the new book, "Reconciliation in Afghanistan,” Ali Jalali, former minister of Interior for Afghanistan, and Patricia Gossman, human rights expert and founder of Afghanistan Justice Project, on past reconciliation efforts and the prospects for future negotiations in the country.

In the second panel, “Negotiating with the Taliban,” USIP’s Rodney Jones moderated a discussion with USIP fellow Imtiaz Ali and Shuja Nawaz of the Atlantic Council about Pakistan’s role in past and current reconciliation efforts.

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