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 will take place in Saudi Arabia between the Afghan government officials and members of armed groups 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.
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