Taliban Say Close to Agreement with US

So far, neither side has reached a breakthrough, though both hope talks will conclude in a few days, Suhail Shaheen, spokesman of Afghan Taliban political office in Doha told Anadolu Agency.

"The US agreed to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and resolve the Afghan issue peacefully," Shaheen said.

However, he refused to give details about a timeline in which the US forces would leave the country.

The ninth round of US-Taliban talks resumed on Thursday in Qatar's capital to find a peaceful resolution to Afghanistan's long-running conflict.

Asked whether the Taliban would sit with the Afghan government once peace talks were complete with US officials, Shaheen reiterated his group's stance, and said: "Of course we will talk with all Afghan sides. That also includes the Afghan administration but it will be one of the sides and a party of the conflict, not as the government."

The Taliban have been holding peace talks with the US for nearly a year but refuse to recognize or negotiate with the Afghan government.

However, the Taliban have said they would invite all other Afghan groups to become part of government after a peace agreement was reached with Washington

"Of course, we want an Islamic government in Afghanistan participated in by all Afghans, from all ethnicities, all walks of life, all groups so it will be a very strong Islamic government," Shaheen noted.

On Saturday, some media outlets reported that an agreement between the US and Taliban had been reached and that both sides agreed to establish an interim government in Kabul. However, US peace negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban later rejected the reports.

Message end/