International talks on Afghanistan conflict begin in Oman

A new round of talks aimed at seeking peace between the Afghan government and insurgents kicked off in the Omani capital Muscat on Monday, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said.

The 6th meeting of the so called Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) is taking place after a long pause with delegations from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US, ministry spokesman Shekib Mustaghni told dpa.

The delegation from Afghanistan includes Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai, representatives from the Afghan High Peace Council - an independent body responsible for negotiations with insurgents - the National Security Council, the Defence Ministry and the Afghan spy agency NDS, Mustaghni said.

From Pakistan, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua is taking part. The US and China were expected to send their respective special representatives for the region.

The QCG is aimed at developing a roadmap to bring the Taliban to the peace table, but has so far failed to do so.

Mustaghni said the discussions will include "coordination and cooperation in the peace efforts, commitments made in previous QCGs, the way forward for peace and counter-terrorism."

The meeting is being held nearly a year and a half after the last one in May 2016, amid strained relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan over Pakistan's alleged support for the Afghan Taliban.

No Taliban members have been invited to the meeting, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed. The Taliban have rejected the initiative since it began in January 2016.

The Taliban control around 11 per cent of the country and are battling for control over another 30 per cent. The US and some NATO countries are sending more soldiers to Afghanistan to bolster government forces.