MANAMA, Qatar, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- The Taliban has opened an office in Qatar with the blessing of U.S. President Barack Obama and his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, Qatari officials said.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry welcomed the Taliban, describing the office Monday as a step toward a negotiated peace in Afghanistan, Gulf News reported. In a release, the ministry said the goal of the move is "to facilitate efforts to hold talks with the concerned parties to achieve security and peace in Afghanistan."