The Afghan government has begun work on the formation of the High Reconciliation Council which will define the authorities of the 21-member peace negotiating team intended to hold intra-Afghan peace talks with the Taliban, said Dawa Khan Menapal, a deputy spokesman to President Ashraf Ghani.

He said that intra-Afghan talks will start once the High Reconciliation Council has defined the authorities of the peace negotiating team.

In some areas of Kabul city on Saturday the roads were packed with cars as citizens defied the government lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Only in a few areas were roads vacant of pedestrians and cars and businesses closed.