Taliban strike deal with Qatar on liaison office

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the liaison office will conduct negotiations with the international community. He did not say when it would open.

"Right now, having a strong presence in Afghanistan, we still want to have a political office for negotiations," said Mujahid. "In this regard, we have started preliminary talks and we have reached a preliminary understanding with relevant sides, including the government of Qatar, to have a political office for negotiations with the international community." Mujahid's emailed statement also said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan— the name of Afghanistan under Taliban rule — , has "requested for the exchange of prisoners from Guantanamo." He was referring to a Taliban demand that the U.S. military release about five Afghan prisoners believed to be affiliated with the Taliban from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Taliban strike deal with Qatar on liaison office