Moscow, January 30: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has plans to hold a meet with the Taliban in Saudi Arabia to restart peace talks, a media report said.
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, BBC 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 report 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.”
—Agencies