Afghan Taliban have expressed willingness to hold another round of dialogue with the United States in Islamabad in next few days which would also be attended by representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
As the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalizad is in Islamabad and he held meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday, as well as with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua on Thursday last, diplomatic sources claimed a 'breakthrough' in the ongoing efforts.
The sources said that a high-level Taliban delegation will arrive in Islamabad soon to participate in the next round of direct talks with the US in the presence of representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
However, the sources maintained that the Taliban continue to remain reluctant to hold talks with the Afghan government which the group dubs the "US puppet."
They said that the dialogue will be held on the pattern of the last month talks carried out in Abu Dhabi and the dates for the meeting is being worked out.
The sources said that the development comes following Ambassador Khalizad's expressed the desire of the US government to hold the next round of talks with the Taliban in Islamabad and urged the Pakistani authorities to play their role which consequently led to a 'positive' response from the Taliban side.
On Friday, the visiting US special peace envoy spent a busy day in Islamabad in meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and exchanged views on the Afghan peace process.
During his meetings, Ambassador Khalilzad was accompanied by representatives of the State Department, Pentagon and National Security Council. According to Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal, Zalmay Khalilzad called on Foreign Minister Qureshi at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.