A resumption of peace talks in Qatar between the Taliban and the Afghanistan government has become increasingly unlikely with fresh talks in Turkey or Saudi Arabia a more realistic option, a senior Afghan peace negotiator said yesterday.
Peace talks between the government and the Taliban in Doha were announced in June only to be cancelled in a row over the Taliban displaying their banner and flag, a reminder of their repressive rule over Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.
The Doha office was closed within 24 hours of its opening.
"What is important is for talks to begin, so as to know whether the Taliban want to be part of the political process," said Habibullah Fouzi, a senior member of the High Peace Council, the body created by Afghan President Hamid Karzai in 2010 to pursue peace with the Taliban.
