Taliban seeks venue change for peace talks with US to Qatar
(VOVWORLD) - The Taliban will not attend planned peace talks with the US in Saudi Arabia this month and wants to shift the venue to Qatar, Taliban leaders said Sunday, seeking to fend off Riyadh’s push to include the Afghan government in talks.
 Taliban fighters at Jalalabad's outskirts (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
The upcoming negotiations, the fourth in a series aimed at ending the 17-year war in Afghanistan, are scheduled between the leaders of the Taliban and US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad to discuss the withdrawal of foreign forces and a possible ceasefire this year. The Taliban rejected Kabul’s offer for direct talks, despite growing international pressure in favor of the Western-backed Afghan government having a seat at the table.