Afghanistan ready to talk with Taliban in Qatar

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) – In a landmark development, the Afghan government announced on Sunday it will send an official delegation to hold direct talks for peace with the Taliban in Qatar later this month.

Mohammad Umer Daudzai, special presidential envoy, told reporters in Kabul: "An inclusive official delegation will attend the Qatar meeting representing Afghanistan."

There has been no immediate response from the Taliban who have so far declined to talk with or recognize the Afghan government.

Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, is leading this recent push for talks with the Taliban. He returned to Kabul on Sunday after a brief visit to Pakistan in this connection over the weekend.

This comes after multiple rounds of talks between the U.S. and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar.

The next round of talks is set to take place later this month but no exact dates have been announced.

The U.S.-led talks are aimed at ending the 17-year war in Afghanistan.