Karzai to hold key talks with Obama next week: Faizi

 KABUL): President Hamid Karzai is to leave for the United States next week for talks with his American counterpart, Barack Obama, on the peace process, a proposed security pact and Afghan forces equipment, an official said on Tuesday.

The two leaders would confer on other issues of mutual interest, Karzai’s spokesman, Aimal Faizi, told reporters in Kabul.

To a question, Faizi praised the Pakistani government for freeing eight more Taliban prisoners, hoping more releases would follow. The released Taliban included two former ministers and governors.

Faizi was unable to comment on the whereabouts of those freed from the Pakistani jails, saying the individuals could come to Afghanistan whenever they wished. He said it would be premature to predict what the released Taliban could bring to the table.

On Taliban’s political bureau in Doha, Qatar, the presidential spokesman remarked the office would only serve as an address for rebel representatives. He warned of harsh reaction from the Afghan government if the proposed office was used by the Taliban for propagation.

Faizi said the government had prepared a draft detailing rules for the Doha office and it would be shared with the Qatari leadership soon.

He rejected as rumors that the Taliban had denied entering peace talks with the Kabul government. “If it is true, why Taliban envoys accepted Afghan government-stamped passports to attend the Paris conference? Faizi asked.

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