Afghan Taliban announces meeting with US officials in Qatar

The announcement comes a day after US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad left Pakistan where he had met with Prime Minister Imran Khan, who arrived in Doha for an official visit Monday.

Representational Image. (ANI)

New Delhi: The United States and the Taliban on Monday resumed their talks in Doha which aimed at ending the deadlock over participation of Afghan movement in negotiations for a political settlement of the conflict. The US has not officially commented on the reported meeting, which is the latest round of talks after the last confirmed talks between the two parties in UAE in December. Spokesperson of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement: “Following American acceptance of the agenda of ending invasion of Afghanistan and preventing Afghanistan from being used against other countries in the future, talks with American representatives took place today in Doha. The session will also continue tomorrow (Tuesday). ” The announcement comes a day after US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad left Pakistan where he had met with Prime Minister Imran Khan, who arrived in Doha for an official visit Monday. The meeting took place as the Taliban fighters attacked a security establishment in Central Afghanistan - National Directorate of Security — installation in Maidan Shahr, Kabul, which reportedly claimed 100 lives. The last meeting between US and Taliban was facilitated by Pakistan and was observed by Saudi Arabia and UAE. Taliban representatives who have met several times with US officials in recent months, last week threatened to suspend the dialogue, as it lambasted Washington for changing the agenda of the talks and "unilaterally" adding new subjects. The Taliban have meanwhile insisted that the US should instead withdraw its forces and release Taliban prisoners.