Taliban in high-level talks with Karzai govt

Omars group had shunned negotiations in the past insisting on total withdrawal of foreign forces. The Post quoting sources said Quetta Shura was giving up its rigid stand and has begun talk about a comprehensive agreement that would include participation of some Talibans figures in the government and withdrawal of foreign troops on an agreed timeline.

They are very serious about finding a way out, a source said. The paper said talks with Quetta Shura do not include a representatives of the Haqqani network,a separately led Taliban faction. The Washington Post said the Haqqani group is seen more closely tied to the Pakistani intelligence service than the Baluchistan-based Quetta Shura. Afghan sources said the talks had triggered tensions between Kabul and Islamabad as Pakistan was insisting on a key role in negotiations.