Afghan talks will inch forward with impatient Taliban
Significance The move should open the way to 'intra-Afghan' talks involving government and Taliban representatives. This may help prop up the February deal between the US government and the Taliban, which has frayed as milestones are missed or misread. Impacts The Taliban leadership will be forced to take difficult decisions, putting added strain on their already weak cohesion. A faltering peace process would offer Iran a route to rebuilding influence with the Taliban leadership. Islamic State will use any opportunity such as the recent Jalalabad mass prison escape to undermine peace steps.