Khalilzad again meets Taliban representatives in Qatar

Some domestic and international news outlets have said that Khalilzad met with two Taliban representatives in Qatar this week.

Sami Yousufzai, a Pakistan based journalist who is in close contact with the Taliban, on Saturday tweeted that Mullah Fazli and Mullah Noorullah, two Taliban key members and former Guantanamo Bay prisoners were among those met with Khalilzad in Qatar.

Some other sources said that current Taliban’s deputy leader, Mullah Yaqob, son of Mullah Mohammad Omar was also in the meeting.

Some other sources had said that most focus of the Taliban and US discussions in Qatar was about the release of Taliban prisoners and withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.

However, Taliban and the US did not comment about their second meeting so far.

But both sides confirmed their meetings and discussions last month through statements to the media.

The US special representative for reconciliation in Afghanistan during his second trip to Afghanistan last week met with government leaders and prominent political figures.

Khalilzad has reportedly shared his views on establishing an interim government to facilitate the peace talks with President Ashraf Ghani.

He also attended a quadrilateral meeting of Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the US in Dubai and discussed about the Afghan peace process.

Khalilzad returned from his trip to Kabul today and would share his meetings’ reports with President Ashraf Ghani.