It is increasingly obvious that the NATO (American) backed Afghan government of President Hamid Karzai is increasingly isolated. The Taliban and other related groups enjoy de facto control in large parts of the country's south and east. Insurgent attacks have increased by 50% over the past year and foreign soldiers are now dying at a higher rate here than in Iraq. Disaster looms for the Americans.

It looks as if President Hamid Karzai will have to begin negotiations with sections of the insurgency. The more moderate sections of the neo-Taliban presumably, as they have entrenched support from among the wider Afghan population. With a military solution to the conflict looking increasingly unlikely, there is little to be lost in negotiations.