Live! Taliban's peace overtures good news, says Kerry
June 18, 2013  22:54

The Taliban opening its political office in Doha and agreeing to hold talks with the United States and the government of Afghanistan is good news, US Secretary of State John Kerry, said today.        

 

"It is good news. We are very pleased with what is taking place," Kerry told reporters in a brief comment on the latest announcement coming from the Taliban in Doha.        

 

This was the first official comment coming from the top US diplomat after Taliban made its announcement in Doha and senior administration officials confirmed in Washington that the US would be holding direct talks with the Taliban in the next few days.        

 

Kerry, however, made no other comment on the latest development, which officials described as the first significant step towards achieving the goal of long term peace in the region. The Taliban in its statement said, they oppose the use of Afghan soil to threaten other countries; and that they support an Afghan peace process.

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