DOHA - The Taliban need to take solid steps to pave the way for intra-Afghan talks, officials of the High Council of National Reconciliation said as the start of the talks remain uncertain. 
“The Taliban should take solid actions to help pave the way for the start to intra-Afghan talks, the Taliban should agree on a date,” said Faraidoon Khawzon, a spokesman for Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the High Council of National Reconciliation.
Reservations that were raised by a number of Western countries about Taliban prisoners to be released, and the conditions set by the Afghan government about the release of Afghan government hostages, are apparently the two main hurdles hindering the timely start of the intra-Afghan negotiations.

The list of 5,000 prisoners was given to the Afghan government by the Taliban to be released ahead of the intra-Afghan negotiations, which are now expected to be held in Doha.
This comes a day after US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said he sees “no legitimate reason” to delay the intra-Afghan negotiations that are expected in near future but have been postponed over differences on the release of high-value Taliban prisoners by the Afghan government. (TOLO NEWS)