Resumption of talks between the US and the Afghan Taliban

Afghan Taliban representatives held further talks with a US delegation in Qatar on Wednesday, as the Afghan government convened a traditional assembly in Kabul to defend its interests in a possible peace deal.

The Taliban announced in a statement that their chief negotiator, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, had spoken with the US envoy to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad.

"They exchanged views on the main aspects of a peaceful resolution of the Afghan issue," spokesman for the Islamist movement Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters.

This is the sixth round of talks between the Taliban and the Americans since last October.

Zalmay Khalilzad is seeking from his interlocutors the proclamation of a ceasefire likely to pave the way for a disengagement of the United States, called by his wishes by Donald Trump.

The Taliban are calling for the withdrawal of the 14,000 US military still in Afghanistan as part of NATO's Resolute Support mission......