Afghanistan, Taliban Discuss Possible Resumption of Peace Talks - Reports

Media reported Saturday that Afghan official met with members of the Taliban group to discuss efforts to end the country’s long-running war and resume peace talks.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Afghan authorities have recently met with Taliban members to discuss efforts to end the country’s long-running war and a possibility to resume the peace talks, media reported.

"That was the deal, that they [Taliban] would not simply reject that they’re going to meet [us] face to face [for official talks]," a senior Afghan official from the government delegation told the Wall Street Journal on Saturday.

The meeting took place in late February in Qatar, and was reportedly described as "positive" by both sides, but they failed to agree on the Taliban officially entering the talks.

According to the official, the sides also failed to agree in the formal details of the talks.

Formed in the 1990s, the Taliban seeks to enforce sharia law in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The group is known for numerous attacks against authorities and civilians of both countries.

Talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government began in Pakistan last July but were suspended over the news that long-time Taliban leader Mullah Omar died back in 2013. Calls for peace talks come after a series of significant military gains made by the Taliban in several Afghan provinces.

Earlier this month, Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan aid that the talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban insurgency may start by mid-March.