Afghan gov't says direct talks with Taliban underway
KABUL, Afghanistan - For the first time, the Afghan government has confirmed that its representatives are holding face-to-face meetings in Pakistan with the Taliban to prepare for peace talks.
A senior Afghan official, speaking to reporters at the presidential palace, confirmed that a four-member delegation from the Afghan government, led by the Afghan deputy foreign minister, and a three-member delegation from the Taliban are meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday and Wednesday, reports CBS News' Ahmad Mukhtar.
The official also added that one observer each from the U.S. and China are also taking part in the talks, although he did not name them.
The two sides have attempted peace talks before, but have been unable to come together at the negotiating table.
The Taliban have not yet publicly commented on the talks.
On Tuesday, however, the Taliban did take responsibility for two separate suicide bombings in Kabul, killing at least one person and wounded three, including a NATO soldier, Afghan officials said.
In one attack, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle struck at the gate of an intelligence facility in the eastern part of the Afghan capital, according to Abdul Hassib Sediqi, the spokesman for the National Directorate of Security.
The explosion killed one of the soldiers guarding the compound and wounded another. After the bomber detonated his explosives, two other attackers, both on foot, opened fire at the troops guarding the compound, Sediqi added. Both attackers were swiftly shot and killed by the guards.
Earlier in the day, a suicide car bomber targeted a NATO convoy near the same area, wounding at least two people, damaging several cars and shattering windows on several buildings.
A NATO spokesman in Kabul, Col. Brian Tribus, confirmed the attack on the coalition convoy, which took place shortly before noon and said the alliance was gathering more information on the incident.
One of the wounded in the convoy attack was an Afghan civilian while the second person was from the convoy, said Gen. Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the city's police chief who was at the scene of the blast. He did not elaborate.
In a text message to media, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that attack had targeted a "foreign car."
U.S. and NATO combat troops pulled out of the country at the end of last year, leaving full security responsibility in the hands of Afghan forces. The coalition has remained in Afghanistan in a training and support role.
Since then, the Taliban have stepped up attacks targeting Afghan officials, soldiers and local security forces.
In other violence, in southern Helmand province late on Monday night, three police officers were killed and two were wounded when Taliban insurgents attacked their checkpoint in Gershk district, said Abdul Qayum Qayum, the Gershk district police chief. Six Taliban insurgents were also killed during the ensuing fighting at the checkpoint, he added.