*ISLAMABAD – The Taliban said Wednesday that its negotiators would meet USenvoys for talks this month in Islamabad, and also sit down with PrimeMinister Imran Khan to discuss Afghanistan.*
The announcement, not immediately confirmed by Washington or Islamabad,comes as America’s chief negotiator tours the globe shoring up support fora peace process to end its longest war.
Zalmay Khalilzad, a former ambassador to Afghanistan, held extensive talkswith the militants last month in Qatar, where the Taliban have an office.
More talks are slated for later in February.
But a Taliban statement issued Wednesday said separate meetings would beheld first on February 18 in Islamabad “by the formal invitation of thegovernment of Pakistan”.
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Talks in Doha would follow a week later on February 25, the statement said.
Khalilzad is heading a large delegation on a tour of Belgium, Germany,Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan and Pakistan to boost the peace process andbring all Afghan parties to the table.
He has expressed cautious hope for a deal before Afghan presidentialelections slated for July, but says the Taliban must come to the table withthe Kabul government, which the insurgents consider a US puppet.
