A war without winners

The Nato defence ministers have met in Budapest to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. The Irish times argues in favour of entering into talks with the Taliban. "Nato defence ministers meeting in Budapest are considering renewed pleas from the United States for extra troops in Afghanistan to boost the alliance's military effort there against the Taliban. ... It is a contentious issue, made even more difficult by the world financial crisis, which severely constrains military budgets. Even without that pressure there is more and more open talk among leading Nato commanders that the war is unwinnable. ... This welcome new realism about the conflict recognises that it will need to be resolved in political talks with the Taliban. ... Political efforts to make progress should distinguish between pragmatic and fundamentalist opponents of the Karzai government, with the former more willing to reach an agreement to end hostilities and attempt to reconstruct the country."

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