[cranked]

Contrary to your belief, there is indeed a Taliban and any contact with them will only act to legitimize them.

[gandalftb]

The Taliban as portrayed in the media does not exist. There is a Shura Council that nominally heads a coalition of various Pakhtun tribal militias, Central Asian gangsters, drug/kidnapping gangs and foreign Sunni jihadists (AQ). Pahktun alliances and loyalties have always been spun around family ties.

The Afghan groups have formally renamed themselves as non-Taliban connected, the Tareek-e-Taliban is the only group wih Taliban in their name and that is only a loose coalition in Waziristan. 2/3 of that group is now neutral and watching the other third (Mehsuds) be attacked.

The label "Taliban" has no operational significance.