Taliban ‘spokesperson’ Suhail Shaheen, in an interview with BBC Pashto, said that the Taliban is ready to begin intra-Afghan negotiations within a week if the prisoner release is completed, reports Tolo News on August 9. Shaheen said the first round of talks,expected to be held in Doha (Qatar), will be led by Abbas Stanikzai, the former chief negotiator of the Taliban during their talks with the United States (US).