Taliban: No More Negotiations

Maybe the words "Taliban" and "peace talks" weren't meant to appear together, anyway? Amid the military offensive launched by the Pakistani government, (much to the approval of the U.S.) the Taliban has scrapped negotiations, calling the truce "worthless." Before the operation, which began this past weekend, the government had allowed the Taliban to institute Sharia law in certain territories provided they lay down their weapons. The uneasy agreement was shortlived. After the Taliban entered a province a mere 60 miles from Islamabad, the military retaliated. There is a massive exodus of civilians from the war zone as the army hunts down insurgents. The military claims it has killed 46 militants since the offensive began.