ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – The Afghan Taliban’s office in Doha has been revived and the Taliban are now holding initial talks with the Afghan government, with Pakistan acting as facilitator, a local media outlet reports.
A top Pakistani official privy to this development confirmed the resumption of initial contacts between the two sides for formulating the rules and agenda of formal talks, expected to begin in March this year.
“Yes I can confirm Taliban’s Doha office has been revived. Afghan Taliban are holding initial talks with senior Afghan government officials to chalk out the strategy and set rules for formal talks,” the official told the media outlet.
Another official said Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif had given the green signal for facilitating the resumption of dialogue when he met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul earlier this week.
The official also confirmed that the Afghan Taliban have held two rounds of talks with senior officials in Beijing, and Pakistan was taken on board by Chinese officials about the conclusion of the talks held in the Chinese capital, Beijing.
Details reveal that in the initial level talks, the Afghan Taliban are being represented by Qari Din Mohammad from the Taliban political office in Doha who also went to China in late November, 2014 to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
Qari Din Muhammad also held a meeting with senior US diplomats in Doha this week.
Islamabad, Beijing, Doha and Dubai are the possible venue for talks, and a final destination would be decided by the end of this month.
When asked for comments, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said Pakistan has vital stakes in peace and stability in Afghanistan and is ready to provide whatever assistance it can.
“We are ready to facilitate the reconciliation process to the possible extent,” she confirmed.
