Taliban-US officials begin talks in Qatar: sources in Qatar

A member of Taliban group who lives in Qatar told to western media outlets that America and Taliban group started the first round of talks on Friday.

The Taliban group opened an office in Qatar in June 2013 as the first move towards a possible peace deal, but it shut a month later after enraging the then-Afghan president Hamid Karzai by styling it as the unofficial embassy for a government-in-exile.

Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesman of Taliban group denies the news about US officials meeting with Taliban and said US officials have not suggested Taliban for talks in Qatar so far.

Meanwhile, sources in Afghanistan said that Taliban representatives will meet US officials in Qatar soon for possible peace talks on Afghanistan.

There have been several fruitless attempts at dialogue in recent years between the Taliban and the United States.

Former member of Taliban group, Sayeed Akbar Aqa said, “Taliban who are in Qatar are those near to Mullah Omar, negotiation with them will not be inconclusive.”

US officials have not commented anything regarding the agenda of talks with Taliban so far.

Announcement about US officials meeting with the armed Taliban comes two days after Pakistani army chief General Raheel Sharif held talks in Kabul with Ghani.

The US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan ended its combat operations at the end of 2014, but a contingent of 12,500 foreign troops has stayed on to give training and support to Afghanistan’s 350,000 soldiers and police.

Afghan government aimed at ending the 13-year conflict in Afghanistan with US officials meeting Taliban.
Reported by Nasrat Parsa