No US-Taliban talks scheduled: State Department

Washington: The United States has not scheduled talks with the Taliban, the State Department said on Thursday, after reports that discussions with the Afghan insurgent group could begin this week in Qatar.

"Reports of a meeting being scheduled or on the books aren`t accurate," spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters, saying Washington had "never confirmed" the date and place of any specific meeting.

"We are now in consultations with the Afghan leadership and the High Peace Council on how to move forward."

Several reports had said US-Taliban talks would be held tomorrow in the Qatari capital of Doha, where the Islamist militant group driven from power in Kabul in 2001 had opened a political office.

AFP