High hopes and low expectations for Afghanistan cease-fire proposal

A unilateral cease-fire announced Thursday by the government of Ashraf Ghani is the latest attempt by the Afghan president to lure the Taliban to the peace table with the promise of political recognition, and an end to more than 16 years of fighting.

The move was backed by the U.S. and is being talked up both in Washington and in Brussels, headquarters for the NATO-led Resolute Support mission. Taliban fighters have been resurgent since the U.S. withdrew most of its troops in 2014 under President Barack Obama.