DHAKA: The first officially acknowledged peace talks between the Afghan Taliban and the government in Kabul have concluded with an agreement to meet again after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Pakistan officials said, Al Jazeera publishes this report on Wednesday.

Pakistan hosted Tuesday’s meeting in a step towards ending more than 13 years of war in Afghanistan, in which the Taliban have been fighting the government.

Officials from the US and China were observers in the talks held in the town of Murree, a hill resort on the outskirts of Islamabad, a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.

‘The participants agreed to continue talks to create an environment conducive for peace and the reconciliation process,’ the media quoted the statement as saying.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who has pushed for the peace process and has encouraged closer ties with neighboring Pakistan in a bid to achieve this goal, first announced the talks on Tuesday.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif described the talks as a ‘breakthrough’, adding, ‘This process has to succeed’.

BDST: 1454 HRS, JULY 08, 2015
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