The next round of negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government will be held in Qatar from next month, a top official said yesterday, despite President Ashraf Ghani's recent calls for them to be moved home. Peace talks began on September 12 at a luxury hotel in Dohaand the next round of talks  will begin on January 5 in Doha. Earlier in December, negotiators from both sides decided to take a break after months of often frustrating meetings which were bogged down by disputes on the basic framework of discussions and religious interpretations. Prior to going on the break, negotiators finally announced they were ready to proceed on preliminary lists of agenda items when talks resumed on January 5.

Source: Reuters