PETER LLOYD: There is a new push for peace in Afghanistan after 12 years of war. Negotiations could begin within days between the Taliban and the US and possibly Afghan governments.

The surprise development happened after the Taliban opened a diplomatic outpost in the gulf state of Qatar and publicly signalled its readiness for peace talks. Despite those positive signs though, the militants are still refusing to give up their campaign of terror, as Lexi Metherell reports.

LEXI METHERELL: The Taliban's so-called Political Office of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was unveiled with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Qatar's assistant foreign minister.

(Sound of clapping)

LEXI METHERELL: To coincide with the opening the Taliban revealed it's now ready to find a political solution with the US and the Afghan governments.

That's been welcomed by the US president as Western forces prepare to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by the end of next year and with NATO this week formally transferring responsibility for security in Afghanistan to Afghan forces.

Barack Obama:

BARACK OBAMA: Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process is the best way to end the violence and to ensure lasting stability in Afghanistan and the region.

LEXI METHERELL: US officials will begin bilateral talks with the Taliban at the new office within days, Afghan officials will follow.

The Afghan president Hamid Karzai's demanding that the talks move to Afghanistan soon and lead to an end to violence as well as this:

HAMID KARZAI: The talks must not become a tool for any third country for exploitation with regard to its or their interests in Afghanistan.

LEXI METHERELL: By third country he means Pakistan and its Taliban backers there.

The opening of negotiations doesn't mean the Taliban will stop waging its military campaign, as a representative of the new office, Mohammad Sohail Shaheen told Al-Jazeera.

MOHAMMAD SOHAIL SHAHEEN: Because there is no ceasefire now they are attacking us and we're attacking them, so the attacking will continue in parallel with talks for peace.

LEXI METHERELL: That determination to keep fighting has previously contributed to attempts to set up peace talks failing. US officials acknowledge negotiations will be slow and tough. But it has already got one thing it wanted: the Taliban has stated it opposes Afghanistan being used to conduct terrorist attacks on other countries.

The US now wants the Taliban to separate completely from Al Qaeda, to end its violence and to respect women and minorities.

US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

JEN PSAKI: The main dialogue we want to support is among Afghans. But there are some issues we, the US, want to discuss with the Taliban directly, most notably our concerns about Taliban connections to international terrorism.

We are in Afghanistan as you all know because the attack against the United States on 9/11 was planned there by Al Qaeda under shelter offered by the Taliban. An important focus for our meetings moving forward with the Taliban will be the need for them to completely and verifiably break with terrorism.

LEXI METHERELL: The people who have suffered the greatest toll over the 12 year war - the Afghans themselves - are warily hopeful about the new push for peace.

KABUL RESIDENT (translated): If the Taliban really want to talk about Afghanistan with the people of Afghanistan, with the Afghan army and the Afghan government and if they really want to bring peace in Afghanistan we are happy about it.

PETER LLOYD: That's a Kabul resident there, ending Lexi Metherell's report.