Karzai Says Afghanistan In Talks With Taliban

from National Public Radio

The Taliban has strongly denied it has begun peace talks with the Afghan government and the US. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said talks among the Taliban, US and Afghan officials have already begun in the Gulf state of Qatar, but it hasn't been confirmed. Taliban media spokesmen have long maintained there will be no peace talks with what they call the "puppet" government in Kabul. Karzai is holding talks Thursday in Islamabad with leaders of Pakistan and Iran, discussing prospects for negotiations with the Taliban. NPR's Kabul bureau chief, Quil Lawrence, talks with Robert Siegel about the news.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, February 16, 2012