Afghanistan has agreed to a US plan to allow the Taliban to open an office in Doha.
President Karzai previously rejected the idea, accusing the US and Germany of discussing the plan with Qataris, without informing the Afghan government of the full plan.
But in a statement on Tuesday, President Karzai said he would agree to Qatar hosting the office.
Karzai would prefer Turkey or Saudi Arabia, but if the United States insists that the insurgents establish a liaison office in Qatar, “we are agreed,” he said.
“Having an exact address for the opposition (is a condition) for practical steps toward starting negotiations,” Tuesday’s statement said.
An official stressed that the acceptance by the Afghan government is not a concession to the Taliban, but a move to facilitate a peace process.
The Taliban themselves have not yet commented on the plans.
Related link:
With Taliban ‘embassy,’ Qatar again punches above its weight (The Globe and Mail)
