A Taliban spokesman announced on Tuesday that the organisation is willing to open an office in Qatar for negotiations with the ‘international community’.
Zabiullah Mujahid said an agreement had been reached with Doha and other ‘relevant parties’ but did not elaborate on when the political office would be opened.
Secret discussions between US and Taliban officials had been ongoing for months and it is thought that a release programme for Taliban prisoners of war has also been negotiated.
Plans for the office in Qatar where initially opposed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, but he gave in to US pressure and approved the plans last week.
See previous article:
Qatar to host Taliban ‘embassy’ (28 Dec 2011)