Afghan Taliban agrees to enter 'preliminary peace talks' with Afghanistan govt

A former top Taliban commander has said that Afghan Taliban's senior leadership has agreed to start "preliminary peace talks" with the Afghanistan government.

A Taliban leader said that the representatives, who met Pakistani and Chinese officials earlier, had sought time to consult the senior leadership, which has now given a "green signal," reported The Express Tribune.

He added that Pakistani officials had urged Taliban leaders to sit "face-to-face" with Afghan authorities and put their demands before them to find a political solution to the problem, reported The Express Tribune.

Another Taliban leader said that a small delegation of Taliban leaders from its political office in Qatar are expected to visit Pakistan soon for further discussions to explore ways for the proposed peace talks and the re-opening of the Taliban office in Qatar.

He said that senior representatives, Qari Din Muhammad and Abbas Stanakzai, will be among the team.

Taliban had long been opposing any dialogue with former president Karzai's government by arguing that he had no powers to take decisions. They had the same approach towards the the government of incumbent President Ashraf Ghani but they now seem willing to initiate dialogue with Afghan authorities.