Date : 04/04/2013
WASHINGTON, April 4 (KUNA) -- The United States said it supports Afghan
President Hamid Karzai's talks with Doha aimed at possible talks with Taliban
insurgents on violence in Afghanistan.
"We were supportive of President Karzai's visit to Doha to strengthen the
cooperation between the Afghan government and the government of Qatar to
prepare for the prospect of Afghan-Afghan talks there on the Afghan side under
the auspices of the High Peace Council," State Department spokeswoman Victoria
Nuland said in a press briefing.
"That is a separate issue than whether the Taliban chooses to avail itself
of this opportunity. It knows very clearly what it has to do, and the ball is
in its court, if it wants to see this office opened," she added.
Karzai held talks with Qatari leaders on Sunday on a visit the Kabul
government has said would seek to explore the possibility of talks with
Taliban insurgents on ending Afghanistan's war. This follows years of stalled
discussions among the United States, Pakistan and the Taliban about a possible
Afghan settlement. (end)
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