Afghan officials privately peace talks with Taliban group

KABUL: (MEP) – According to reports, Taliban group representatives have held talks with the Afghan government officials in a bid to jump-start stalled peace talks, which was suspended following the opening of the Taliban office in Qatar, khaama reported.

Afghan officials and senior Taliban group representatives have confirmed the reports and said that informal and preliminary talks were held between the Taliban group and Afghan high peace council.

The two sides have secretly met in an attempt to agree on conditions for formal talks.

A former Taliban diplomat and member of the Afghan high peace council, Habibullah Fauzi quoted by Associated Press said, “Some individuals (on the peace council) have met Taliban on an individual basis.”

Without disclosing further information regarding the place and time of the meeting, Habibullah Fauzi said he’d heard reports of meetings in Saudi Arabia between High Peace Council members and Taliban who were in that country to perform the Islamic pilgrimages of Umrah and Hajj.

In the meantime, Janan Mosazai, spokesman for the foreign affairs ministry of Afghanistan told reporters on Sunday that the Afghan government certainly is in contact with certain leaders and certain figures among the Taliban.

Another Taliban representative in Doha, Qatar told the Associated Press that secret talks with the High Peace Council have already begun.

The official further added that Taliban negotiator Mullah Abbas Stanikzai met last month with a senior member of the High Peace Council in Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates.

He also added that peace talks will be resumed in the near future.