Talks were suppos­ed to be held in QatarPESHAWAR, PAKISTAN: The Taliban said on Tuesday they had cancelled planned peace talks with US officials in Qatar this week over an agenda disagreement. “Both sides have agreed to not meet in Qatar,” senior Taliban members based in Afghanistan told Reuters. Talks had been planned for two days starting Wednesday in Qatar, senior Taliban members earlier told Reuters. The Taliban had rejected requests from regional powers to allow Afghan officials to take part in the discussion. Talks with Taliban: Afghan president’s special envoy to arrive todayThe Taliban regard the United States as its main adversary in the Afghan war and views direct talks with Washington as a legitimate effort to seek the withdrawal of foreign troops before engaging with the Afghan government.

Source: The Express Tribune January 08, 2019 13:30 UTC