Afghanistan government offers unconditional talks offer to Taliban
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Afghanistan is open to unconditional peace negotiations with the Taliban insurgents, Kabul’s top envoy to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal told Chinese media on Monday.
"We are in contact with the Qatar office and also a number of influential individual Taliban leaders and commanders but there are no formal negotiations," said the Afghan ambassador.
The remarks came after foreign and Afghan media reported senior Afghan officials had met the Taliban political representatives in Qatar.
"Taliban could bring any proposal to the negotiating table but we have ruled out preconditions for talks," Zakhilwal said when asked about the Taliban's certain conditions ahead of the talks.
Taliban negotiators have publicly called for reopening of their political office in Qatar, lifting of UN sanctions on their senior leaders and release of prisoners.
"We are open to any and all opportunities for peace talks. We can find our way with the Taliban if external support to them stops," the Afghan envoy said.
