Afghan govt unveils team for Taliban talks

KABUL The Afghan government has finalized a 21-member team, including five women, who will negotiate with the Taliban in upcoming talks aimed at ending Afghanistan’s 18-year-old conflict, officials said Friday. The move is a crucial step in bringing the warring parties to the table and getting a floundering, US-led peace process back on track. Under a deal signed by the US and the Taliban last month, the insurgents agreed to commit to starting talks with the Afghan government and discuss a possible cease-fire. Up until now, the Taliban has refused to meet with the administration of President Ashraf Ghani, calling him an American stooge.–AFP