NOTHING CAN BE RULED OUT IN GLOBAL POLITICS: After fighting against the Taliban for 20 years, America has had what it described as "candid and professional" talks with the Taliban, who stunned the world in August this year by returning to power. The talks centred on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and US concerns about security and terror, following the Daesh bombing in Kunduz on Friday that left 50 people dead. Pointedly, the Taliban refused US involvement in the fight against Daesh inside the country. But can the Taliban defeat the Daesh threat inside Afghanistan on its own? It is too early to predict but since the group's victory and takeover of Kabul, Daesh has launched a string of attacks that have left hundreds dead, including dozens of Taliban members. For Afghanistan, and indeed for the Taliban, Daesh represents a clear and present danger. [COMMENT BY: Omar Shariff, International Editor]
AFP