Afghan President agreed to hold talks with Taliban: Qatar

Afghan President Ashraf Gh has agreed to hold a round of negotiations with the Taliban in Qatari capital of Doha, said Qatari Foreign Ministry Special Envoy Mutlaq Al-Qaht.

"President Gh agreed to hold the negotiations with the Taliban in Qatar," Sputnik quoted Al-Qaht as saying. The envoy made the remarks after a meeting with Chairman of the Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul.

Abdullah said after the talks with Al-Qaht that Kabul was appreciating Doha's efforts aimed at ensuring peace and security in Afghstan.

On Sunday, the TOLOnews broadcaster reported, citing sources close to the Taliban, that the negotiations between the group and the Afghan government would be held in Doha.

The exact date of the meeting has not yet been revealed, but the government has reportedly agreed to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners, as envisioned by the US-Taliban peace deal signed in February.

( With inputs from ANI )