Kabul:
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai will travel to Qatar in another bid to move forward stalled reconciliation attempts with the Taliban. Afghan Presidential Palace officials have confirmed to NDTV the trip could come as early as this month.
The President has accepted the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad al-Thani's invitation, Palace Spokesperson Aimal Faizi said, adding, "President Karzai will hold talks on two main issues including the Taliban liaison office establishment in Qatar and improvement of bilateral ties."
No confirmation was forthcoming, though, over whether Mr Karzai would meet Taliban representatives. He has been vocal in his opposition to Western-led attempts to negotiate with the Taliban. Mr Karzai has insisted any reconciliation must be Afghan-led - something New Delhi also favours.
The Taliban so far have refused to deal with what they refer to as a 'puppet government' in Kabul. There have been contacts - some secret, some brokered through think tanks-between the western coalition countries, in particular the US, the UK and Germany and so-called representatives of Mullah Omar.
The Taliban though had officially broken off any moves to talk with the U.S in March 2012. They have various conditions including the 'goodwill' release of leaders in Guantanamo, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mr Karzai has conditions of his own- that the Taliban must renounce the Al Qaida and accept the Afghan constitution.
The Afghan President and his US counterpart Barack Obama had issued a joint statement after a bilateral meeting in January, welcoming the setting up of a Taliban office in Qatar.
Qatar has been in the forefront of attempts to broker reconciliation, but getting all sides of the conflict to even agree to talk has proved illusory over the months.
President Karzai's upcoming visit is another attempt to take ownership of any possible peace process.