Taliban, U.S. open new round of talks to end long war

KABUL — U.S. and Taliban negotiators began a new round of peace talks Wednesday in Doha, Qatar, aimed at securing a lasting peace agreement that would include Taliban guarantees regarding terrorism and a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said on Twitter early Wednesday that the talks — the sixth round between U.S. and Taliban officials — had begun in Doha, the Qatari capital.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the special envoy leading the U.S. delegation, has said the talks will ultimately focus on four main issues. They include troop withdrawal; guarantees against terrorism; talks between the Taliban and the U.S.-supported government of Afghanistan to establish a path toward political settlement; and a lasting ceasefire.

The Taliban have refused so far to meet with the government of President Ashraf Ghani, calling it illegitimate. A planned visit to Doha by an Afghan delegation that included government officials collapsed April 26 after disagreements over the composition of the delegation, which was to meet informally with Taliban leaders.

The Taliban had agreed to a session for the two sides to get to know one another. They insisted that government officials attend only in their own personal capacity, but Ghani’s government pushed to have them attend as government representatives.

Afghan officials say Ghani is troubled by being frozen out of the negotiations as important agreements are being structured. The talks come in the middle of a fierce presidential campaign, with some of Ghani’s rivals proposing an interim government. The Afghan president has insisted on continuing with elections, which are now scheduled for September.