talks with taliban

When Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he was holding talks with Taliban leaders this week, his spokesman was quick to clarify the remarks: talks about talks, not actual "talks." The Taliban altogether denied it.

There's an underlying issue of trust -- the government broke promises to protect insurgents who laid down their arms.

Still, a council was formed to facilitate formal talks.

The emerging consensus in Afghanistan is that military action alone will not win the war against the Taliban and a political solution will be necessary.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has reached out to some Taliban leaders. But analysts say the Taliban and the U.S. are not ready for full-scale negotiations — yet.