Turkey has signalled approval for Afghan government plans to reconcile with mid and low-level Taliban fighters through jobs and cash. The plan is reminiscent of the "Sunni Awakening" or "Sons of Iraq", where Sunni insurgents were paid to halt their insurgency and work with the government to provide security within their own communities.

(Here is an statistical update on the integration of the SOI from the Long War Blog.)

The statement came from a meeting in Istanbul between Afghan officials and various regional powers. The meeting included China's foreign minister, Iran's vice-president, Russia's deputy foreign minister, Britain's foreign minister and the deputy to U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke. Officials from Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, NATO and the European Union were also present.

High ranking officials from approximately 60 countries are slated to convene on Thursday in London to coordinate strategy and fortify support for Afghanistan.

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Afghan intelligence report has tied the Haqqani network, based in Pakistan, to the massive guerrilla attack on Kabul on January 18th. This announcement follows last week's statements by Secretary Gates urging Pakistan to do more to contain the Haqqani network.

The Haqqani network was one of the main recipients of foreign weapons and monies during the Soviet-Afghan war.

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France is now very close to approving a partial ban on Islamic veils following a report by parliamentary committee. The report states, "The wearing of the full veil is a challenge to our republic. This is unacceptable. We must condemn this excess."

The committee's near 200-page report has proposed a ban in hospitals, schools, government offices and on public transport.

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Here is a great photo slideshow of the Sri Lankan election.