Karzai Council To Pursue Taliban Peace Talks

(NewsCore) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced Saturday that he had set up a council to pursue peace talks with the Taliban.

The formation of the High Peace Council was "a significant step towards peace talks," a statement from Karzai's office said.

The move was one of the most significant steps Karzai has taken yet in his oft-stated efforts to open a dialogue with the Taliban leadership, which is aimed at speeding an end to the country's long war.

Karzai's plan to create the High Peace Council was approved in June at a "peace jirga [summit]" in Kabul that was attended by community, tribal, religious and political leaders from across the country.

The council was mooted as a negotiating body with representatives from a broad section of Afghan society that would engage in peace talks with the Taliban.

Officials met Karzai at his palace Saturday to finalize the list of members, who would include "jihadi leaders, influential figures and women," the statement said. The complete list of members would be announced after the Eid holiday, in mid-September, it added.

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