The Taliban group has confirmed that a meeting regarding peace efforts would be organized in Islamabad based on formal invitation of the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The group in a statement said that the meeting would be organized on 18th of February and would be attended by the U.S. envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad as well.

The statement said “As the negotiations process continues to take place between the Islamic Emirate and United States and meetings have already been held in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, the next round will resume on the 25th of February 2019 in the Qatari capital of Doha as per agreement reached during the previous meeting.”

The statement further added “Similarly, by the formal invitation of the government of Pakistan another meeting is scheduled to take place between the negotiation teams of Islamic Emirate and United States on 18th of February 2019 in Islamabad where the negotiation team of Islamic Emirate will also meet with the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to hold comprehensive discussions about Pak-Afghan relations and issues pertaining to Afghan refugees and Afghan businessmen.”

This comes as efforts are underway to launch direct negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban group to find a political solution to the ongoing conflict in the country but the Taliban leaders have so far refrained from direct talks with the Afghan officials.