MONITORING (SW) – The Taliban and the U.S. negotiators took a two-day break from peace talks following extensive discussions.
"The meetings ended last night as both negotiation teams agreed to take a break today and tomorrow for consultations and preparation for the third meeting, which shall be held on Saturday," Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman said in a statement.
The fifth round of peace talks between U.S. officials and the Taliban began Monday in the Qatari capital Doha.
"Extensive discussions were held about the method of foreign troop withdrawal from Tuesday until Wednesday noon, and from that time onwards, the discussion revolved around preventing Afghanistan from being used against others", said Mujahid.
The U.S. team is being led by its top envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, while the Taliban side is headed by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai.
Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, has said all four issues – withdrawal of foreign troops, no threats of terrorism emerging from Afghanistan in the future, comprehensive ceasefire and direct talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government – remain on the table.
“As talks continue in Doha, there is also progress on forming a national team in Kabul ready to engage in intra-Afghan dialogue and talks with the Taliban”, he announced in a series of tweets on Thursday.
ENDS
