C.I.A. Chief Sees Taliban Power-Sharing as Unlikely - nytimes

The director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Leon E. Panetta, expressed strong skepticism on Sunday about the prospects for an Afghanistan deal being pushed by Pakistan between the Afghan government and elements of the Taliban, saying militants do not yet have a reason to negotiate seriously.

Mr. Panetta’s comments were the strongest pushback from a top Obama administration official following a report of Pakistan’s deal-brokering efforts last week in The New York Times. It came days after a major shake-up in the American military leadership, as President Obama fired his top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, replacing him with Gen. David H. Petraeus but stating that the American war strategy would not change. - C.I.A. Chief Sees Taliban Power-Sharing as Unlikely

Pakistan Is Said to Pursue an Afghan Foothold - nytimes