Taliban movement is to open a political office overseas as part of peace talks with the US.

Taliban movement is to open a political office overseas as part of peace talks with the US.

According to s statement emailed to news organizations and published on the movement’s website, Taliban said it had held "preliminary talks with relevant sides including Qatar" to open an office outside Afghanistan.

"We're now prepared, while having a strong presence inside [Afghanistan] to have a political office outside [the country] for negotiations," the statement said, reiterating the stance that all foreign troops must leave to end the war.

For its part, Afghanistan's High Peace Council, the government's official body charged with seeking a negotiated end to the country's war, welcomed Taliban move.
"It is important for the Taliban to negotiate with the international community, especially with the US, and we welcome their decision to set up a political office.

"It is important for the Taliban to negotiate with the international community, especially with the US, and we welcome their decision to set up a political office," Arsala Rahmani, a top negotiator on the council, told the Reuters news agency.
"It is a gesture of good faith. The Taliban are blacklisted by the US so it is very important for them to engage in talks with the US," he said.