AGAINST loud opposition at home Afghanistan's president, Ashraf Ghani, has gambled that improving relations with Pakistan is the best way of bringing the Taliban into peace talks. On August 7th he received a sharp and bloody rebuke.

AGAINST loud opposition at home Afghanistan's president, Ashraf Ghani, has gambled that improving relations with Pakistan is the best way of bringing the Taliban into peace talks. On August 7th he received a sharp and bloody rebuke.