The Afghan government and Taliban militants have officially opened their first-ever peace talks to end the war, Al Jazeera reported.
The talks are being held in the capital of Qatar, Doha. Keynote speakers at the opening ceremony were Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the Supreme Council for National Reconciliation in Afghanistan, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Taliban Leader, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The talks, in which the parties will speak with each other for the first time, will take place on Monday 14 September.
"I believe that if we shake hands and honestly work for peace, the current misfortune in the country will end," Abdullah said, calling for a "humanitarian ceasefire."
At the same time, Taliban spokesman Baradar reiterated the demand of his group on the country's acceptance of the "Islamic system": "We want Afghanistan to be an independent, developed country, and it must have the form of an Islamic system, where all its citizens see themselves."
Mike Pompeo called on the parties to "seize the opportunity" to secure peace.
