Afghanistan Times
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AT News Report
KABUL: The Chinese government is to host representatives from Afghan government and political leaders to sit in front of Taliban negotiators in the third round of the intra-Afghan dialogues, according to reports.
Taliban representatives held talks with Afghan politicians including former president Hamid Karzai twice in Russia and Qatar to find a way for ending the war.
Sources in the government said Monday that the meeting has been scheduled for October 31st in Beijing, adding that President Ghani’s administration wants the session be held after the announcement of the presidential election results.
From Taliban, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Mullah Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai are said to lead a 15-member team.
Chinese Special Representative for Afghanistan is now in Kabul and has so far met some government officials and political leaders to discuss the intra-Afghan dialogue.
Also sources close to Taliban have said that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, ceasefire and peace guarantee would be unofficially discussed in the meeting.
Political leaders call on the government not to link peace process to the election, urging that Taliban need to accept a ceasefire in Beijing meeting.
The government wants Taliban to observe a one month-long truce and hold direct negotiations. According to government officials who did not want to be named, the government would also meet with its international partners and the take advice from some members of the April peace consultative jirga.
