Afghan President Hamid Karzai will travel to Doha for discussions with the Qatari emir on accelerating peace talks with the Taliban, an official said Sunday, dpa reports.
Karzai has been officially invited by the emir and "the two sides will talk (about) the opening of a political office for the Taliban," Foreign Ministry spokesman Janan Musazai said, but didn't disclose the date.
He emphasized that the government's position on the opening of the Taliban's political office in Qatar had not changed. "The office should be opened only to facilitate a direct relationship and direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban."
Musazai said the Taliban must "make clear that they are ready to talk to the government." In the past, the Taliban have refused any talks with the Afghan government, calling it a puppet administration of the United States. dpa hah hrs ar Author: Hafiz Ahmadi