Afghan Envoy To UN Says Kabul-Taliban Peace Talks Expected Soon

The United Nations envoy for Afghanistan says a Taliban dispute over who will succeed their late leader Mullah Mohammad Omar will not prevent peace talks with Afghanistan's government from resuming "in the next couple of weeks."

Nicholas Haysom made the remark to reporters after telling the UN Security Council that Afghanistan's path to stability cannot be taken for granted.

Haysom said peace talks have been on hold as "the dust hasn't settled" on the Taliban's succession issue.

In July, U.S. and Chinese representatives supervised the first round of peace talks in Pakistan.

Haysom said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and China's foreign minister will co-chair a meeting on Afghanistan on September 26 during a United Nations gathering of world leaders.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters