Taliban, US hold peace talks today

DOHA, Jan 08 (Al Jazeera): Afghan Taliban representatives and the United States officials will hold peace talks for two days starting today (Wednesday) in the Gulf State of Qatar.

Senior Taliban members, however, said Afghan government officials will not be involved in the talks.

The Taliban has rejected numerous requests from regional powers to allow Afghan officials to take part in the talks, insisting that the US is their main adversary in the 17-year war and that Kabul is a "puppet" regime.

The talks will be the fourth in a series between Taliban leaders and US special envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad.