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Afghan Taliban Ready For Prisoner Swap, Peace Talks Appear Delayed

June 20, 2013

Afghanistan's Taliban says it is ready to exchange a U.S. soldier held captive since 2009 for five senior Taliban members imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay.

Shaheen Suhail, spokesman at the Taliban's new Qatar office, told the Associated Press on June 20 that the U.S. soldier "is, as far as I know, in good condition."

Suhail said the prisoner exchange was the first item on the Taliban's agenda before opening talks in Qatar.

Talks between U.S. officials and the Taliban were expected to begin this week, but now appear to have been delayed.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said he won't send Afghan representatives to Qatar unless the peace process is "Afghan-led."

James Dobbins, the U.S. special representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan, has delayed his plans to go to Qatar.

Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan-taliban-prisoner-swap/25023007.html

Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.