Taliban opens office in Doha to hold talks

In a significant development, the Taliban today opened its political office in Doha to hold peace talks with the Afghan government and separate parleys with US that could boost reconciliation process in the Afghanistan after 12 years of war.
The 'Political Bureau of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan' has been opened in the Qatari capital of Doha to initiate dialogue between the Taliban and the world, the Taliban said.
In a statement, it said the office would help to build relations with the world, allow them to meet other Afghans and to contact the United Nations, other agencies and the media.

"We support a political and peaceful solution that ends Afghanistan's occupation, and guarantees the Islamic system and nationwide security," it said, making no direct reference to peace talks.
The Obama Administration was cautious to Taliban's announcement in view of "low level of trust" among Afghans themselves but termed the development as a "significant first step" in the overall goal of achieving peace in the war-torn country.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, senior administration officials appreciated the "constructive" role played by Pakistan in bringing the Taliban to the negotiation table, noting that over the years Islamabad has realised that peace and stability in neighbouring Afghanistan is in their national interest.

The US would have first talks with the Taliban within the next couple of days, and this to be followed by the one between the Taliban and the High Peace Council, officials said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his government envoys are to travel to Qatar to try to open peace talks with the Taliban on a possible deal ending the conflict.
Taliban, which has been fighting against US-led NATO troops and the Afghan government since 2001, broke off initial contacts with the Americans last year and have long refused to negotiate with Kabul.
A number of countries have been holding secret parleys with different Taliban representatives over the past many months to try and broker a peace talk deal.

The developments come ahead of the 2014 scheduled pull-out of the international forces from Afghanistan.