Four-Nation Talks On Afghanistan To Be Held In Islamabad

Officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States, and China will hold talks in Islamabad on January 11 on reviving stalled negotiations aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan.

Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Shekib Mostaghni was quoted by the AP as saying on January 9 the officials will discuss a "road map for peace talks."

He said the Afghan delegation will be led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Karzai.

Afghan officials say the talks do not include the Taliban, but they do not rule out the possibility of the group joining at some stage.

Pakistan hosted talks between Afghan officials and Taliban representatives in July but the process was stalled when the Taliban belatedly confirmed the death of longtime leader Mullah Omar.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters