Talks between the US and the Taliban seeking to end nearly 18 years of war in Afghanistan resumed in Doha on Saturday, the Taliban said.
“Today the talks began,” the group’s spokesman in Doha, Suhail Shaheen, told AFP.
The US, which invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban in 2001, wants to withdraw thousands of troops.
However, any drawdown would be on condition the insurgent group renounces Al-Qaeda and curbs attacks., AFP reported.
Washington is hoping to strike a peace deal with the Taliban by September 1 — ahead of Afghan polls due the same month, and US presidential polls due in 2020.
US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that “we’ve made a lot of progress. We’re talking”.
Source: AAFP
