KABUL – The Taliban militants have said they are waiting to receive aformal offer from the United States for direct talks to find a solution tothe ongoing conflict in Afghanistan.
The group also shared a demand ahead of the talks with the United States,saying “We want names of our leaders removed from the United Nationssanctions list as a confidence building measure ahead of the talks,”according to Daily Times.
“We will start official talks with the US about the withdrawal of foreignforces and their concerns,” the Taliban representative told thePakistan-based paper.
“We want direct negotiations with the US to find out a solution to theproblem. We want talks on the withdrawal of the foreign troops first andthen we will work for peace,” he further said.
This comes as reports emerged on Monday suggesting that the Administrationof President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered its top diplomat to seekdirect talks with the Taliban group in Afghanistan in a bid to help kickstart Afghan negotiations.
Sources privy of the development in U.S. and Afghanistan have told The NewYork Times that the Trump administration is considering a strategy shift tohelp the launch of a broader, formal negotiations to end the long war.
No date has been set for the likely talks between the US and the Talibangroup with the US State Department and the Taliban yet to formally commentregarding the latest developments.