Taliban militants released the details of the recent meeting between the United States (US) delegation led by Special Adviser for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and the Taliban ‘political leaders’ in Qatar on October 12, reports Khaama Press. Taliban ‘spokesman’ Zabiullah Mujahid in a statement said the Taliban political delegation consisting of the head of Qatar office Alhaj Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, ‘deputy chief of the political office’ of Taliban Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, ‘members of the political office’ Sherikh Shahabudin Delawar, Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, Alhaj Mohammad Zahid Ahmadzai, and Mohamamd Sohail Shaheen met with the U.S. delegation led by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. According to the statement released Taliban told the U.S. delegation that the presence of the Foreign Forces is a major barrier in resolving the issues and for the return of lasting peace in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile Special Adviser for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad met with the leader of Hezb-e- Islami Afghanistan (HIA) Gulbuddin Hekmatyar in Kabul Province, reports Khaama Press on October 14.