[Sunday Times-UK]
Christina Lamb –

Britain has spent more than £1.5m in Afghanistan that year to bribe members of the Taliban to lay down their arms, even though it has floped to persuade any significant figures to defect.
The money was allocated in January and May after the killings of two top commanders, Mullah Osmani and Mullah Dadullah,

and the arrest of Mullah Obaidullah, all members of the Taliban’s ruling council.
British officials expected that would lead to a dip in Taliban morale and energize members to fear they were on the losing side. Instead, heavy fighting has continued.
Britain has 7,100 troops in Afghanistan – more than in Iraq.

Original post by Rachel Barenblat