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Afghan President Karzai to Talk with Taliban

Other News Materials 29 January 2012 19:27 (UTC +04:00)

Afghan President Hamid Karzai plans to meet with the Taliban in Saudi Arabia in an attempt to restart peace talks, the BBC reported on Sunday.

The militant group has agreed to the meeting, which is due within the next few weeks, as it is looking to establish a permanent office in Qatar, RIA Novosti reported.

"Even if the Taliban office is established in Qatar, we will obviously pursue other efforts in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey," the BBC quoted a senior Kabul government official as saying.

"Saudi Arabia has played an important role in the past. We value that and look forward to continued support and contact with Saudi Arabia in continuing the peace process," he said.

The Taliban has so far refused to talk to the Kabul government.

Earlier this month, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the movement was ready to restart the peace process.

He added, however, that the move did not mean "a rejection of jihad" or "the acceptance of the constitution of the stooge Kabul administration."

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