Will Bowe Bergdahl Be Released Soon?

[Howey]

Looks like there's negotiations between the US Government and the Taliban (depending on Pakastini cooperation, which certainly isn't a given anymore) to negotiate a trade for Bergdahl. Let's hope it's accomplished soon. If not promising, perhaps the Navy Seal Team 6 can put another amazing rescue.

Proposed talks between Taliban leaders and the U.S. government could lead to the release of captive soldier Bowe Bergdahl, but it might depend on the willingness of Pakistan's leaders to come to the negotiating table.
 
Taliban officials agreed earlier this month to open a "political office" in the Gulf state of Qatar to engage in a possible prisoner swap of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl of Hailey for top Taliban leaders held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Washington Post reported the move as the first indication of a willingness by the Taliban to negotiate with the U.S. since a war in the region began more than 10 years ago.
 
Still, several obstacles to the talks remain, including a lack of trust between Pakistan and the U.S., The New York Times reported on Sunday.

[Howey]

Talks begin...

KABUL, Afghanistan — Several Taliban negotiators have begun meeting with American officials in Qatar, where they are discussing preliminary trust-building measures, including a possible prisoner transfer, several former Taliban officials said Saturday.

The former officials said that four to eight Taliban representatives had traveled to Qatar from Pakistan to set up a political office for the exiled Afghan insurgent group.

The comments suggested that the Taliban, who have not publicly said they would engage in peace talks to end the war in Afghanistan, were gearing up for preliminary discussions.

American officials would not deny that meetings had taken place, and the discussions seemed to have at least the tacit approval of Pakistan, which has thwarted previous efforts by the Taliban to engage in talks.

The Afghan government, which was initially angry that it had been left out, has accepted the talks in principle but is not directly involved, a potential snag in what could be a historic development.

The former Taliban officials, interviewed Saturday in Kabul, were careful not to call the discussions peace talks.