[Dawn] An ex-Taliban envoy said on Thursday that he had no knowledge of plans by the Afghan cut-throats to set up a political office in Qatar, even though media reports billed him as a potential chief of a possible Taliban mission in the tiny Gulf state.By opening an office, the Taliban would indicate a willingness to talk peace after 10 years of war in Afghanistan and signal their intention to try and find a political solution to an insurgency that has cost the lives of thousands.
Abdul Salam Zaeef, the Taliban's former ambassador to Pakistain, said he was unaware of such an office being planned. A top member of the Afghanistan peace council, ex-Taliban official Arsala Rahmani, said he was also unaware that such an office was about to open.
Their remarks follow reports in an Indian newspaper, The Hindu, quoting unnamed Indian diplomatic sources that said work was being finalized on a Taliban office in Qatar that Zaeef may run.