Thorny issue of cease-fire set to dominate renewed talks for proposed peace deal in conflict-torn Afghanistan
The Taliban on Saturday resumed formal peace talks with the U.S. in the Qatari capital, Doha, the group confirmed in a statement.
Suhail Shaheen, the insurgents’ Qatar office spokesman, said on social media that Mualla Baradar Akhund, the group’s deputy head, led the Taliban delegation.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump met his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani during a surprise Thanksgiving visit to U.S. troops in Afghanistan, where he claimed his administration had resumed peace talks with the Taliban and the insurgent group is willing to observe a cease-fire, a claim that confused most observers.
The Afghan-born Khalilzad met with Afghan government representatives and other Afghan leaders in Kabul on Wednesday as part of his renewed shuttle diplomacy for peace before leaving for Qatar.