–Taliban spokesperson confirms second round of talks with US officials in DohaWARDAK/DOHA: Not only Afghan Taliban are keeping Afghan government out of talks held between them and the United States with a little help from Pakistan and gulf states, they have ramped up pressure on the Ghani-led government in Kabul with an increase in deadly attacks on the government installations. Hours after an attack on military compound in central Maidan Wardak province on Monday that killed over 100 members of the security forces, the Taliban confirmed second round of talks with the US officials in Qatar. The negotiations will continue on Tuesday,” he added. According to media reports, at least 126 people, including eight special commandos, had been killed in the explosion inside the military training centre. The official said the assault began on Monday morning when the attackers rammed a car full explosives through a military check point and detonated the vehicle inside the campus of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) forces training center in Maidan Shahr, the capital of Maidan Wardak province.

Source: Pakistan Today January 21, 2019 10:03 UTC