Taliban open office in Turkey

The Turkish foreign minister has confirmed that preparations are underway for opening an office in Turkey for the Afghan Taliban. 

During a recent visit to Turkey, the president of Pakistan, together with his Turkish counterpart, made a commitment to support political initiatives to end the war in Afghanistan.

Ankara has been calling for talks with the Taliban, and having strong ties with both Afghanistan and Pakistan is seen as a key element in facilitating talks.

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Turkey asked to host contact with Taliban

A 10-MAN delegation from Hamid Karzai’s high peace council has flown to the Turkish capital to ask Ankara to host embryonic political contacts with the Taliban.

The council will ask Turkey to host a “Taliban office” or negotiating base where Taliban envoys would be free to meet representatives of Mr Karzai’s government.

Opening such an office would stop short of official recognition of the insurgents, but would show that Kabul and the West were serious about negotiation, sources told The Irish Times.

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