Washington, Jan 04(ANI): The Taliban for the first time ever has expressed their interest in finding the middle ground with the United States on Tuesday. However they haven't mentioned any role for the Afghan government during the negotiations.
This declaration from the Taliban has come after a major exodus of a militant group, which stood, long on its stand of not negotiating till the time foreign military is present on the Afghan soil.
This announcement has also raised a sense of optimism that after years of blunders, a US sought deal to end the decade-long war can be reached, The Washington Post reports.
If an official Taliban office is set up in Qatar then the US officials and Afghan interlocutors can find a formal platform to carry on the negotiations with the Taliban representatives after months of hidden contact
However, the road to negotiations doesn't seems smooth since over looking the Afghan government from the talks can infuriate Afghan President Hamid Karzai who during the summer of 2010 had termed the Taliban as their wayward brothers and requested them to leave weapons to join the political ground in Afghanistan.
Karzai has often felt affronted in U.S.-led attempts at peace talks during the past. Another major snag, which can affect any kind of possible negotiations in future, is Pakistan's role in it and its decision to whether back the negotiations or foil the effort.
The major encouragement for the Taliban to enter into negotiations with the US is to find out a way to get their leaders who are currently imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba released.
According to an Afghan official, the Taliban can even use a captured U.S. soldier, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to bargain with Washington.
The Taliban is also expected to negotiate with Washington over removing their leaders from international terrorist sanctions list which would eventually bring them out of a diplomatic isolation.
US government has long tried to find out a solution to the decade-long war which has brought them lots of financial strain and has also become quite unpopular now. (ANI)
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