Samina Ahmed (south Asia project director of the International Crisis Group): As the insurgency ramps up, support for "talking to the Taliban" in Afghanistan is increasing. Voices in the United Nations and in Europe favour a new set of negotiations between civil society, political parties and the insurgents, and it is a natural reflex to seek a way out of a seemingly intractable conflict by exploring all available political solutions. But while negotiations are credible and acceptable if they help resolve conflict and save lives, that will not be the case in Afghanistan's current environment.

The problems begin with identifying those who would be involved in a "new dialogue process". Afghan civil society is weak and political parties, which have been undermined by lack of domestic and international support, are in no position to lobby or feed constructively into national policy formation. Who would represent "the Taliban"? The UN Security Council has castigated Mullah Omar and most of his Kandahari leadership, and removing them from the list will not happen quickly. The US, at least, is unlikely to play ball.