The Taliban in Afghanistan has finally agreed to hold direct talks with the Kabul government aimed at ending the country's war and violence.

Mohammad Naeem Wardak, a spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Qatar, announced the preparations, according to an IRIB correspondent in Kabul.

He said the Taliban was ready to start Afghan-Afghan talks as per the agreement reached in Qatar. Wardak said the Taliban wanted to establish peace and genuine Islamic rule across the country in order to protect Afghanistan's national interests and Islamic values.

Afghanistan's second vice president, Surur Danish, said yesterday (Thursday) that the Kabul government had removed all obstacles to Afghan-Afghan talks; So the government hopes the Taliban will return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Afghan media reported that a delegation led by Abdullah Abdullah will travel to Qatar today (Friday) on behalf of the Afghan government to hold talks with the Taliban.

The Taliban has been in talks with the US government for more than a year, but has refused to negotiate with the Kabul government. The release of all Taliban prisoners held in Afghan jails was one of the conditions for them to negotiate. The Afghan government has recently met that condition by releasing thousands of Taliban prisoners.