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| Afghanistan's Karzai in Qatar 'to discuss Taliban talks' | Afghanistan's Karzai in Qatar 'to discuss Taliban talks' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Afghan President Hamid Karzai has arrived in Qatar on a two-day state visit for talks with Qatari officials. | Afghan President Hamid Karzai has arrived in Qatar on a two-day state visit for talks with Qatari officials. |
| The possibility of the Taliban opening a political office in Qatar is expected to be discussed, officials say. | The possibility of the Taliban opening a political office in Qatar is expected to be discussed, officials say. |
| The setting up of an office in Qatar is regarded as an important step in formalising a channel for peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. | The setting up of an office in Qatar is regarded as an important step in formalising a channel for peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. |
| US-led Western troops are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. | US-led Western troops are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. |
| As the Afghan president's visit began, there were reports that two children and nine suspected Taliban militants had been killed in an air strike by international forces close to the south-eastern city of Ghazni. | |
| A Nato spokesman quoted by Reuters news agency said an Afghan police patrol had come under attack and had called in a helicopter for support. | |
| Last month, President Karzai issued an order banning Afghan security forces from calling in foreign air strikes in residential areas, because of heightened tensions about the extent of civilian casualties. | |
| Mr Karzai's office said the talks in Qatar would focus on bilateral cooperation and on Afghanistan's peace process. | |
| Last month Mr Karzai and Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari said that they would work towards a peace deal for Afghanistan within six months. | Last month Mr Karzai and Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari said that they would work towards a peace deal for Afghanistan within six months. |
| Previous talks between the Taliban and the US have run in to difficulties, with the Taliban suspending talks in March last year. | Previous talks between the Taliban and the US have run in to difficulties, with the Taliban suspending talks in March last year. |