City
Epaper

Taliban members meet top leader in Quetta over US deal

By IANS | Updated: December 26, 2019 11:30 IST

Taliban members met the group's top leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada in the Pakistani city of Quetta, during which they discussed a potential ceasefire with the US, a media report said.

Open in App

A delegation from the Taliban's office in Doha also participated at the meeting so that it could brief the US side in Doha about a final decision on the ceasefire, TOLO News said in the report on Wednesday citing informed sources as saying.

"Discussions are underway to decide whether the ceasefire will be a short term or a permanent one, however a final decision has yet to be taken," said Sayed Akbar Agha, a former Taliban commander.

Meanwhile a source familiar with the talks in Doha has said that the US has told the Taliban that it would not sign a peace agreement unless a deal was reached on a ceasefire and the reduction of violence.

Meanwhile in Kabul, the Afghan government is also trying to finalize a peace-negotiating delegation as part of efforts to broker the intra-Afghan talks once the US and the Taliban sign the peace deal.

"The Afghan government has considered the principle of consultation as a key element in forming an inclusive peace negotiating delegationthe peace negotiating team will be inclusive to make sure that it can represent the people of Afghanistan in a comprehensive way," said Naji Anwari, spokeswoman for the State Ministry on Peace Affairs.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Talibandohaus
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalSouth Carolina: 20 Injured in Lightning Strike at Lake Murray Public Park in Lexington

InternationalPM Narendra Modi Dials Iran President, Calls for De-escalation Amid US Strikes on Nuclear Sites

InternationalIran-Israel Conflict: Israel Attacks Iran's Sole Nuclear Power Plant in Bushehr; Tensions Escalate

MumbaiMumbai: Bomb Threat Call to US Consulate Traced to Mentally Unstable Youth Upset Over Visa Rejection

InternationalOrganic Ground Beef Recalled Over E. Coli Fears in US - Is Yours Affected?

International Realted Stories

InternationalTerrorism is enemy of humanity, thank Ghana for supporting India in fight against terror: PM Modi

InternationalSouth China Sea of "great concern" to Quad; ensuring it stays calm and free of conflict is a common priority: EAM Jaishankar

InternationalPakistan doesn't impinge on India-US relations: EAM Jaishankar

InternationalPM Modi meets Ghana President Mahama, discuss ways to expand cooperation in key sectors

International"Matter of immense pride", PM Modi conferred with Ghana's highest state honour