Afghan peace talks in Qatar: US hails ‘historic’ opportunity

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Qatar for the opening of US-backed negotiations peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government negotiators, according to a report.

The talks will begin on Saturday in Qatar, officials said, marking a potentially momentous milestone in Afghanistan’s 19-year-old war.

Pompeo, in a statement, called the talks a “historic” opportunity to end decades of war and bloodshed, adding “This opportunity must not be squandered.”

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the talks “are a serious and important step towards establishing sustainable peace in Afghanistan.”

Afghanistan’s former Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, who now heads the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), was set to fly to Qatar on Friday.