The Taliban group has termed the preliminary talks with the US officials as ‘very useful’ and has promised to elect a delegation for the formal talks if some progress was made during the initial stage, it has been reported.
“The negotiations are at initial stage … and both sides discussed options to pave the way for future contacts and meetings,” a Taliban official has told Daily Times.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the Taliban official further added that the talks were held in a ‘very cordial atmosphere and both sides had useful exchanges’, he added.
In the meantime, sources have said that the head of Taliban office Maulvi Sher Abbas Stanekzai led the Taliban team in talks, who called for removal of UN restrictions on Taliban leaders and recognition of their office in Qatar.
Taliban will set up another delegation for formal dialogue if preliminary talks make some progress, sources added.
Taliban political office in Qatar was opened in 2013 but was closed just days after then president Hamid Karzai criticized the group for hoisting a white flag.
