The government of Afghanistan and the radical Taliban movement held the first talks, mediated by the United States and Qatar, to discuss the exchange of prisoners. According to the US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, the talks were held online.
"Today, the US and Qatar facilitated the first technical talks between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban (outlawed in Russia) on the exchange of prisoners via Skype", the US diplomat said.
Khalilzad stressed that the sides expressed their commitment to reducing violence, inter-Afghan dialogue and a final ceasefire.
The need for a more urgent exchange of prisoners due to the coronavirus situation was also discussed.
Earlier, Kabul and the Taliban signed the first peace agreement for more than 18 years of war. The document provides for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and the beginning of an inter-Afghan dialogue after the prisoner exchange deal.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Rahmat Gul / AP / TASS