The sixth round of peace talks between representatives of the United States (US) and Taliban began on Doha, the capital city of Qatar on May 1, reports Khaama Press. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed that the U.S. delegation has arrived in Doha for the talks. The U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad leads the U.S. delegation. The U.S. delegation will focus on a declaration of a ceasefire to pave the way to an end to the fighting. However, the Taliban group will focus on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country. The fifth round of peace talks between U.S. and Taliban concluded in mid-March in the Qatari capital Doha after sixteen days of extensive talks. In a statement posted on Twitter after the conclusion of 5th round of talks, Ambassador Khalilzad had said “Peace requires agreement on four issues: counter-terrorism assurances, troop withdrawal, intra-Afghan dialogue, and a comprehensive ceasefire. In January talks, we “agreed in principle” on these four elements. We’re now “agreed in draft” on the first two.” He also added “When the agreement in draft about a withdrawal timeline and effective counterterrorism measures is finalized, the Taliban and other #Afghans, including the government, will begin intra-Afghan negotiations on a political settlement and comprehensive ceasefire.”
Zalmay Khalilzad met with the Taliban’s deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Doha, Qatar, the group said in a statement on May 2, adds Tolo News. Baradar clarified that there is a need to finalize the two important agendas of the previous meeting which include the "complete" withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan and the assurance that Afghanistan’s soil will not be used against others, the statement added. “If the issue of troop withdrawal becomes certain, intra-Afghan dialogue will start. I don’t think that the Taliban will start intra-Afghan talks before that,” said Sayed Akbar Agha, a former Taliban member.