AP Photo

In the lead-up to this week's international conference in London, remarks by the commander of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, and the US defence secretary, Robert Gates, have given a boost to those who would like to see the Taliban engaged in a political settlement. The prevailing view in Washington is that many Taliban fighters can be won over, but that the current US troop surge has to roll them back first, reversing Taliban successes and gaining control over the population centres and major roads. According to the American strategy, the US ­military has to weaken the Taliban before ­negotiating with them.