Negotiating with religious extremists who want Pakistan on their trophylist as well as southern ex-soviet republics, and later all world, is not really tempting. You can only negotiate the timetable for them getting their will. That is because they are religious fanatics.
Continuing with this strange carricature of a determined war is not an option, and will lead nowhere.
A determined, uncompromised war in afghanistan and pakistan, also hurts precious western feeling, and is no realistic to be expected to ever become a reality.
And pulling out also nobody wants.
That's the perfect deadlock. Well done!
