PAKISTAN TO BROKER TALIBAN PEACE DEAL WITHOUT U.S.

"Pakistan is exploiting the troubled U.S. military effort in Afghanistan to drive home a political settlement with Afghanistan... offering to broker a deal with the Taliban leadership... that would give Pakistan important influence there but is likely to undermine US interests... Pakistan is presenting itself as the new viable partner for Afghanistan to President Hamid Karzai, who has soured on the Americans... (which) heightens the risk that the U.S. will find itself cut out of what amounts to a separate peace between the Afghans and Pakistanis, and one that does not necessarily guarantee Washington’s prime objective in the war: denying Al Qaeda a haven... The dismissal of Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal will almost certainly embolden the Pakistanis in their plan as they detect increasing American uncertainty..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/25/world/asia/25islamabad.html