Taliban for peace talks with US in Pakistan

Islamabad: The Taliban said on Wednesday that its negotiators would next week meet the top US and Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Imran Khan during a key round of talks in Islamabad as part of the ongoing Afghan peace talks. Neither Washington nor Islamabad immediately confirmed the announcement by the Taliban. 

On the "formal invitation of the government of Pakistan, another meeting is scheduled to take place between the negotiation teams of the Islamic Emirate and the US on February 18, 2019 in Islamabad," Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement. The Taliban's delegation would also meet Prime Minister Khan, the statement said. 

Mujahid said the regular round of talks was already scheduled to be held on February 25 in Qatar. He said that in the meeting with Khan, Taliban would have "comprehensive discussions about Pak- Afghan relations and issues pertaining to Afghan refugees and Afghan businessmen".