Karzai underscores Afghanistan's right to decide its future

Taliban has stepped up a campaign of assassinations, creating a sense of siege that has made Mr. Karzai a virtual prisoner of his own palace. It has hit back with targeted attacks intended to undermine public confidence by demonstrating the government's inability to protect even its most senior officials. Adding to this, increasing violence by Afghan soldiers toward U.S. and other coalition forces has raised tensions among the allies.

The Karzai government has expressed concern that it is not being fully included in the U.S.-led efforts to reopen direct negotiations with the insurgents, complaining that the Afghan government should lead any talks. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Karzai underscores Afghanistan's right to decide its future: Afghanistan is not a place for foreigners to do their political experiments or a laboratory that every few years they test a new political system.

"Pakistan, where much of the Taliban leadership resides, could use the insurgents as a stalking-horse to strike a deal with Washington and, in the process, secure its own position in Afghanistan."