WASHINGTON (AA) - The United States and the Taliban will begin talks towards a political resolution for the 12-year-old war in Afghanistan.
US officials said Tuesday that the Taliban has agreed to participate in peace talks based in Qatari capital Doha to start a political resolution of the war in Afghanistan ahead of White House plans to withdraw US-led NATO troops.
Officials stated that direct talks between US officials and Taliban representatives may begin this week in Doha and would be soon followed by a meeting between Taliban and the High Peace Council, which will represent the Afghan government in the talks.
Reminding a Taliban statement issued on Tuesday that rejects using Afghan land to attack other countries and supports Afghan peace process, US officials noted that the US will urge Taliban to break ties with Al Qaeda, end violence, protect the rights of women and minorities and adopt the Afghan constitution, and the parties will possibly discuss prisoner swap.
Officials also pointed out that "Peace is not in our pocket," underlining a possible long process of peace due to the low level of trust of Afghan government and Taliban in each other.
-Taliban spokesman Mohammed Naeemat said, "It is an important step towards peace."
Taliban opened a political bureau of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the Qatar's capital Doha on Tuesday to help resume talks to end the 12-year-old war.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the office in the capital Doha, Taliban spokesman Mohammed Naeemat said "The new bureau aims at a political solution in Afghanistan and the establishment of a fair government for Afghan people. It is an important step towards peace."
"We want to keep good relations with all countries in the world, in particular with our neighboring countries," he said.
Stressing that they aim to keep contact with the neighboring countries for peace talks, to further develop relations and to end the occupation via political and peaceful means.
"The Islamic emirate sees the independence of the nation from the current occupation as a national and religious obligation," he said.
