KABUL – The Taliban have appointed a co-founder of the movement as the newhead of their political officein Doha, where talks have been held since Monday with US officials seekingto end 17 years ofconflict in Afghanistan.

“The esteemed Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has been appointed … chief ofthe political office,”Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement released lateThursday.

“This step has been taken to strengthen and properly handle the ongoingnegotiations processwith the United States,” he added.

The announcement comes as the insurgents said Thursday they had held fourstraight daysof talks with US officials in Doha. It was not immediately clear if thenegotiations were ongoingFriday.

The duration of the talks, described as “unprecedented” by analysts, hasraised hopes ofan imminent agreement that could pave the way to peace talks.

But Washington, which confirmed on Tuesday that talks were being held inQatar betweenits envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and representatives of theTaliban, has made nocomment since.

Afghan officials, who have complained previously about being cut out of thetalks, alsowarned that any agreement would need their endorsement.

Baradar, formerly a number two of the Islamist group, helped Mullah Omar,who died in2013, to found the Taliban movement. – APP/AFP