Kabul (dpa) – The Afghan government is planning to meet and talk with Taliban insurgents who have been waging a decade-long war, officials confirmed Monday. The meeting between Afghan government officials and members of armed groups will take place in Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, a senior government official told dpa on condition of anonymity. “There are many factions in the armed opposition and some are willing to talk to the Afghan government in Saudi Arabia,” he said without elaborating. The spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai was not available to comment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to admit or reject the possibility of talks in Saudi Arabia. However, a senior official with the High Peace Council – an initiative launched by Karzai to talk to the Taliban – said he saw the “possibility of talking to Taliban or other armed groups in the near future in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.” “It will be an expansion of this process and development,” said Ismail Qasimyar, a council member. “Some members of the political leadership of the Taliban would prefer to go to Saudi Arabia rather than to Qatar. Some armed opponents prefer Turkey for that matter,” Qasimyar said. “So, these are not in opposition to each other, but they are stemming from the same process. They will not undermine or contradict each other but rather supplement each other,” he said. “The peace and reconciliation process would be a comprehensive one, all inclusive, but I agree the nature of this process is very complicated and fragile.” This month, the Taliban confirmed it was establishing an office in Qatar to talk to the international community. The Taliban were not available for comment on the talks with Afghan officials. In the past they have rejected any talks with the Kabul administration, calling it “a puppet government.” The Taliban have also demanded that the US release their prisoners who are incarcerated in the Guantanamo Bay prison. They also said opening an office in Qatar does not mean they will stop their military actions in Afghanistan. The news of a US-initiated endeavor to allow insurgents to open a liaison office in Qatar prompted Karzai to recall his ambassador from Qatar, with concerns that the Afghans would be sidelined in the talks. Later, he said he agreed to the Taliban office in Qatar, even though he would prefer it to be in Saudi Arabia or Turkey. A former Taliban commander said Monday “a couple of Taliban officials have now arrived in Qatar for the office and talks.” “What I know is that the Taliban are opening an office in Qatar. Tayyeb Agha, Shahbuddin Delawari, Azizrahman Shams and Abbas Stanikzai are aready in Qatar,” Sayed Mohammad Akbar Agha told dpa. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/xyPNG Tags: Afghanistan, Taliban, Talks Section: Asia, Latest News, Saudi Arabia
