President Ashraf Ghani left on a two-day visit to Qatar on Saturday where he will attend a 'Stability and Welfare For All Summit'.

According to the presidential palace, the president is also expected to meet Qatari businessmen, Afghan businessmen and Afghans living in Qatar.

Political analysts however believe that the trip is aimed at seeking Qatar's support in bringing the Taliban to the peace talks table.

Analysts believe that after government failed to convince Pakistan to bring the Taliban to the negotiation tables, Ghani decided, by visiting Qatar, to ramp up pressure on Islamabad.

These analysts believe that Qatar, by hosting scores of Taliban leaders, can play an effective role in the peace process of Afghanistan.

"The government realized that Pakistan is not sincere over the peace process and now it wants to convince Qatar, which is an important country, to bring the Taliban to the negotiation tables. Those Taliban leaders who are in Qatar are representing the political office of the Taliban and their stance is the same as that of the leadership [of the Taliban]," said Hassan Haqyar, deputy minister of mines during the Taliban's regime.

A number of other political analysts believe that after the former government's efforts, to get the Taliban to talk peace in Qatar, failed, the incumbent government could move to recognize the Taliban's office in Qatar and set the ball rolling regarding peace talks.

"I believe that Pakistan has given a lot of spurious promises to the Afghan government and the government now knows if it repeated the old policies it would lead nowhere and as a large number of Taliban are living in Qatar, the country can give a positive response to Kabul's demand," said Ahmad Saeedi, a political analyst.

However, the presidential palace gave a different view regarding the president's trip to Qatar.

"Qatar as an influential and Islamic country in the region and can play an effective role in the peace process of Afghanistan. In addition, we are trying to encourage the country's investors to invest in Afghanistan," said Sayed Zafar Hashemi, the deputy spokesman for Ghani.

The National Unity Government (NUG) meanwhile reiterated its preconditions for peace talks with the militant group.

"[The militants] should respect Afghanistan's constitution, should say no to violence and should cut their ties with terrorists. I think after doing this, if the militant groups talk peace, it would be in the favor of the country," said Sarwar Danish, the Second Vice President.

Despite having a political office in Qatar, a number of key Taliban leaders including Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq, Mohammad Nabi Omari, Mulah Khairullah Khairkhwah, and Mohammad Fazel Ahmad, who were in Guantanamo prison and were swapped for a U.S soldier about two years ago, are currently living under house arrest in Qatar.