“A series of Taliban assassinations has spread panic in Afghanistan’s ruling elite, increasing ethnic tensions and jeopardising the imminent transition from US and Nato forces to Afghan forces. As the military situation deteriorates, the dialogue process with the Taliban must be sped up. But for this to happen America must also suspend its own lethal night raids against Taliban targets.
Since March, seven top Afghans have been assassinated, including three in the critical southern province of Kandahar. They included Ahmed Wali Karzai, President Hamid Karzai’s brother and Ghulam Haider Hamidi, the mayor of Kabul, considered to be one of the most honest officials in Afghanistan – who were both killed in July....
This is where the night raids matter. The Pentagon, which has been at odds with President Barack Obama over the troop withdrawal, is not fully supportive of the current round of talks. It also considers night raids, carried out by special forces such as the elite Navy Seals, to be one of its major weapons to degrade the Taliban. Yet while the raids have killed numerous commanders, they also generate enormous fear among the wider population. There are strident demands by Mr Karzai to stop them. The Pentagon is not listening.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/d056abd6-bd39-11e0-9d5d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1UGqc4GEo
It's worth reading the whole thing for the background, even if you disagree with the author's conclusions.