US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban’s deputy head Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar met each other for the first time in Doha, the capital of Qatar, Khalilzad tweeted on Monday.
According to Khalilzad the two met during a “working lunch” and will move on to formal talks.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that representatives of the militant group from its political office in Doha were invited for a “formal function” by “Qatari officials” and talks between the US and the Taliban will begin on Tuesday.
Khalilzad earlier said, “this could be a significant moment,” and “[n]ow the work begins in earnest.”
