Gilani to travel to Qatar over Taliban office set up talks

Pittsburgh Star (ANI) Sunday 5th February, 2012

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will travel to Qatar on Monday for talks on the Taliban's plans to set up a representative office in the Gulf state, Pakistani officials have said. aliban leaders had said last month the insurgent movement plans to set up an office in Qatar, a U.S. ally, as part of a fragile peace process.

The U.S. is continuing to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, but also is tentatively exploring peace talks as a way to end the 11-year conflict, including a potential offer to release Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Some U.S. and Afghan officials believe Pakistan - which sees Afghanistan as within its sphere of influence - is attempting to derail peace efforts and continues to support some elements of the insurgency.

Pakistan denies this and complains the U.S. and Afghanistan has kept it in the dark about plans to launch peace talks.

A spokesman for Gilani said he will travel to Qatar on Monday and return on Wednesday. A Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman said Gilani will discuss the Taliban's proposed representative office with Qatar's leaders, although the topic is not on a formal agenda.

The spokesman declined to comment on Afghan plans to take control of the peace talks by meeting Taliban representatives in Saudi Arabia.

The government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai also claims the U.S. has failed to keep it informed about Qatar's involvement in the peace process. In December, Afghanistan recalled its ambassador from Qatar in protest.

Last month, Afghanistan officials said they would instead soon meet Taliban representatives in Saudi Arabia, which is a long-time ally of Pakistan. (ANI)