Taliban Announce That They Will Have Talks With The U.S. In Pakistan On Feb. 18

Taliban says it wants all foreign troops out before the group would agree to a ceasefire [Parwiz/Reuters]

Al Jazeera: Taliban announce surprise talks with US in Pakistani capital

Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says Islamabad talks will be held before negotiations in Qatar scheduled later this month.

The Taliban has said it will meet envoys from the United States for talks next week in Pakistan, even as another round of negotiations is scheduled in Qatar by the end of this month.

The unexpected move on Wednesday was followed by a US State Department spokesperson saying in a statement that Washington had "noted" the announcement but had not "received a formal invitation to any talks".

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Update #1: U.S. to meet Taliban in Islamabad on Feb. 18: Taliban spokesman -- Reuters
Update #2: Taliban announce talks with US in Islamabad -- France 24

WNU Editor: The U.S. is denying this story .... U.S. says it has not received an invitation to talks with Taliban in Pakistan (Reuters).