US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Doha for the start of long-delayed peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government negotiators, President Donald Trump announced Thursday, reports AFP.
“Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be departing this evening on a historic trip to Doha, Qatar, for the beginning of intra-Afghan peace negotiations,” Trump told a press conference.
Long-delayed peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government negotiators will begin Saturday in Qatar, officials and the insurgent group announced Thursday.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan would like to declare its readiness to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the intra-Afghan negotiations that shall be held in Qatar on September 12,” the Taliban said in a statement.
The presidential palace said government negotiators would head to Doha on Friday to participate in the talks.
In a separate statement, the foreign ministry of Qatar also confirmed peace talks will begin Saturday.