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Kabul claims ‘progress’ in direct talks with Taliban

KABUL, saying regional and international consensus has been achieved on intra-Afghan dialogue.

Presidential spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri told Pajhwok Afghan News that the Taliban had showed their willingness to sit with the Afghan government for direct talks.

He said the date and venue for such talks would be agreed upon soon. He said the Taliban should arrive at talks with the Afghan government if they really wanted to end the conflict.

Chakhansuri also said some countries had concerns about the Afghanistan peace  process, but the Afghan and the US governments were trying to address their apprehensions. However, he said the concerns were not so serious to affect the peace process.

About Pakistan’s role in the peace process, he said the neighboring country was yet to deliver on its promises of cooperation with Afghanistan.

Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday assured US special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, who arrive in Islamabad on Thursday, that his country would keep up efforts for reconciliation in the war-torn country.

The Taliban have been refusing to hold talks with the Afghan government and have so far held a series of meetings Khalilzad.

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