Ten years after the Taliban's worst terror attack on its soil, America has tacitly agreed for it to take baby steps towards redemption, The Times has reported.  

The London-based newspaper has reported that Washington, DC, has okayed plans for the Islamist group to open its political headquarters in the gulf state of Qatar by the end of 2012. This move has apparently been approved for the West to begin peace talks with the Taliban. 

Qatar was chosen as the likely site for the office following Washington's insistence that it be located in a country that is outside Pakistan's sphere of influence, the newspaper further said.

The opening of the office, the West hopes, would ultimately lead to some kind of rapprochement between the militant group and the West, and pave the way for lasting peace in Afghanistan.