First official meeting between US and Taliban
The American envoy for peace in Afghanistan, Zalmai Khalilzad, met yesterday with a delegation from the Taliban to discuss the end of the conflict. It is the first officially confirmed meeting between both parties.
The talks took place in Qatar, according to a statement from Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, which was sent to the press today.
“A delegation from the political office (…) met with the US negotiating team led by Zalmai Khalilzad,” it said. Both parties have “agreed to continue the meetings”.
The US embassy in Afghanistan, contacted by AFP, declined to comment on the news. A first announcement announced in the press and never contested by the parties took place in June in Doha after a three-day cease-fire between Afghan security forces and the Taliban. But American diplomacy has always claimed that they do not want to have direct conversations.
Source: AFP
