Pakistan Says ‘Progress’ Made at Taliban-US Talks in Qatar

Pakistan Says ‘Progress’ Made at Taliban-US Talks in Qatar

Pakistan’s foreign minister says “progress has been made” at ongoing peace talks in Qatar between the Taliban and the U.S. that have stretched over two weeks, VOA News reports.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke on Tuesday at a news conference with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Islamabad.

Qureshi didn’t elaborate, though he added: “Pakistan has encouraged all factions within Afghanistan to sit together and have a meaningful intra-Afghan dialogue.”

The talks between U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban representatives have gone on days longer than initially expected in Doha, the Qatari capital.

The U.S. had asked Pakistan to assist in its efforts to find a negotiated peace with the Taliban to end the longest war in American history.

The Taliban refuse to negotiate with Kabul, which isn’t taking part in the Qatar talks.