KABUL, Afghanistan -- After nine years of war, the endgame here has finally begun.
But exactly when the endgame itself will end seems anyone's guess.
The war in Afghanistan entered a new and possibly decisive stage last week, following statements by American officials encouraging Afghanistan's elected leaders and the Taliban's military commanders to reach a settlement to end the war. The Americans said they had gone as far as to help some insurgent leaders travel to Kabul to talk.