Afghan peace talk negotiators hold first direct session in Doha

KABUL: Afghanistan and Taliban peace talk negotiators held their first direct session on Tuesday in Doha, their spokesmen said, as the warring sides try to work out an agenda and schedule for how to negotiate a peace deal as the United States withdraws troops. "The meeting of both negotiating teams with full members took place today at 4:30 p.m.," senior Afghan government negotiator Nader Nadery and Taliban spokesman Muhammad Naeem both said in identical statements on Twitter. "Heads of delegations reiterated the need for patience and tolerance as we move forward in this path," the statement added. A small group of negotiators from both sides had met in previous days to try to discuss how the substantive negotiations would take place.