After Two Days Of Talks, Taliban And Afghan Officials Have Failed To Agree To A Ceasefire

Reuters: Taliban, Afghan figures talk ceasefire but fail to agree

(Reuters) - Taliban representatives met with Afghan political figures for a second day in Qatar on Sunday, and one participant said the two sides discussed a possible ceasefire but ultimately disagreed over the continued presence of U.S. troops in the country.

The closed-door talks hosted by Qatar's foreign ministry represent a tentative sign of life in the effort to end the devastating 13-year-old war in Afghanistan.

The informal talks came as fighting escalated after the withdrawal of most U.S. and allied troops. The Taliban recently launched an offensive in northern Afghanistan that brought its fighters to the outskirts of Kunduz city, a provincial capital.

Participants in Sunday's meeting in Al-Khor, a seaside town north of Doha, emerged from the venue smiling and laughing on Sunday but refused to talk to waiting reporters.

WNU Editor: They have not even agreed on the format to have future talks. Bottom line .... do not expect peace and/or a truce in Afghanistan this year.