News - Afghanistan

Afghanistan would welcome a Taliban office in any Islamic country on the condition that the Afghans lead the talks, President Karzai's Office said on Tuesday.

The Afghan government had earlier said it could agree if a Taliban office is opened in Saudi Arabia or Turkey.

It is said that the government has changed its stance after the Afghan High Peace Council supported the idea to open a Taliban office in Qatar.

Recently the High Peace Council said it welcomed a Taliban office in any Islamic country.

Taliban office in Qatar turned into a controversial issue recently.

The Afghan government had earlier disagreed with the opening of a Taliban office in Qatar and even called the Afghan ambassador, Khaled Ahmad Zakari, to Kabul.

But the Office of Afghan President Hamid Karzai now says that it has now been decided that a Taliban office in any Islamic country would be welcomed.

"Recently it has been decided that a Taliban office in any Islamic country would be welcomed, but on the condition that they are opened in consultation with the Afghan government and the High Peace Council," Hamid Elmi, deputy spokesman of President Karzai, said.

Meanwhile, the High Peace Council has said that it has sent an 11-article letter to different sources and countries about how peace talks should be held with the Taliban.

The Council says one of the main conditions for peace talks that the Afghan government has stressed are that the Taliban must respect the Afghan constitution as well as the achievements gained during the last ten years.