“You can’t call it peace talks,” he said. As hopes of possible formal negotiations have risen, the United States has agreed to participate directly in the talks, although it insists the process will remain under Afghan leadership. Trump’s aide pushes Pakistan for Taliban talksThe meeting in Doha, where the Taliban maintains a political office, followed two earlier meetings between US officials and Taliban representatives in recent months, the sources said. “We have held three meetings with the US and we reached a conclusion to continue talks for meaningful negotiations,” said a second Taliban official. Ghani’s main spokesman Haroon Chakansuri said last week that peace talks would be Afghan-led and would build on international consensus in support of peace.

Source: The Express Tribune July 30, 2018 06:45 UTC