US, Pakistan in touch to break Afghan logjam.

ISLAMABAD -- As the Afghan peace efforts struggle to make headway due to internal wrangling coupled with the delay in the exchange of prisoners, the United States is likely to seek Pakistan's assistance to break the logjam.

While Islamabad has no role to play when it comes to the differences between President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival Dr Abdullah Abdullah, it is believed to have been in constant touch with the US as far as persuading the Taliban to enter the intra-Afghan dialogue is concerned.

Last Friday, President Ghani announced a 21-member 'inclusive team' for talks with the Taliban. However, insurgents were quick to reject the move, insisting the delegation does not represent all groups and factions of Afghanistan.

What has compounded the situation further was the spate of attacks in the last few days blamed by the Afghan government on the Taliban.

Although, there is no formal ceasefire agreed by all sides, the US expects from the Taliban to reduce the level of violence. It is not clear if the recent surge in attacks targeting the Afghan security forces would undermine the fragile peace efforts.

The US frustrated with the internal rift between Ghani and Abdullah, last week decided to review the relationship with Afghanistan while cutting $1 billion aid for the country.

The threat did work as Ghani was quick to name the negotiating team for intra-Afghan dialogue. But ahead of the much-anticipated talks, the Afghan government has to free 5,000 Taliban inmates in return for the insurgents releasing 1,000 Afghan security personnel.

The exchange of prisoners is set to begin from March 31 as the two sides continue technical negotiations to sort out issues. The prisoners swap would lead to intra-Afghan dialogue, something that is seen as crucial for the future of the war-torn country.

While Taliban rejected the Afghan...