Senior Taliban members have confirmed that peace talks with the United States have resumed.
They told NHK that they met with US negotiators, including special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, early in November in the Qatari capital of Doha, where the Taliban maintain a political office.
They say there were intensive discussions on ways to reduce the violence in Afghanistan and establish a ceasefire.
They also say they discussed prisoners exchanges that would include Taliban fighters.
Last year, the US government held peace talks with the Taliban and agreed in principle on a draft peace plan that included a partial withdrawal of US troops.
However, US President Donald Trump suspended the talks in September, following a car bomb attack in Kabul that killed 12 people, including a US soldier.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.
Hopes for a restart of peace talks rose this month, when the Taliban freed two hostages, including a US university professor.
The move came after the Afghan government released three of the Taliban's senior members.
On Thursday, Trump announced the resumption of peace talks during a surprise visit to Afghanistan to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with US troops.
NHK
