(MENAFN- Arab News) DOHA Qatar: Afghan and Taleban officials will hold two days of 'reconciliation' talks in Qatar the Gulf nation's state news agency reported Saturday although both sides sought to downplay expectations from the meeting.
The official Qatar News Agency did not identify the officials taking part in the talks which it said began Saturday citing Foreign Ministry official Yousif Al-Sada.
'The dialogue will be through open discussions about the Afghan reconciliation between all parties in Afghanistan' the agency said.
In a statement the Taleban earlier identified eight people they said would take part in the talks on their behalf. However they said the discussions 'should not be misconstrued as peace or negotiation talks.'
'It is worth mentioning that all participants of this conference attend in an individual capacity no one participates as representatives for any government or party' the statement said. 'Since this is a research conference therefore every participant gives their opinion on a range of issues.'
Afghan presidential spokesman Ajmal Abidy said members of the country's High Peace Council would attend the talks in Doha in their 'personal capacity only.'
'They will meet face to face' Abidy told The Associated Press. 'Nothing is going on. We have no expectations.'
Previous efforts to launch peace talks have failed. In 2013 the Taleban opened an office in Qatar for the 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.'