Hamid Karzai accepts Taleban move on peace talks

He said Saudi Arabia or Turkey would have been preferable venues, but if the United States insisted the insurgents establish a liaison office in Qatar, “we are agreed”.

His statement came despite the government in Kabul repeatedly emphasising it would allow no foreign intervention in its plans to seek a negotiated peace with the Taleban.

Afghan media reports in recent weeks have speculated that the US and other foreign governments were trying to strike a separate deal with the Taleban.The Islamist group has not publicly responded to peace offers.