Round 2 of 4-country talks set to begin

“The participants emphasised the immediate need for direct talks between representatives of the government of Afghanistan and representatives from Taliban groups in a peace process that aims to preserve Afghanistan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity”, a joint statement said after the last meeting.

The Taliban have stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets in Afghanistan this winter, when fighting usually abates, underscoring a worsening security situation.

Khyogani said a guesthouse on the compound was crowded with people invited to a family event.

Khogyani initially said Shinwari’s brother, Saminullah, was also killed, but later retracted, saying he was injured in the blast.

The Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) called on President Ashraf Ghani to raise all the “complicated” problems of Afghanistan at the session in order to pave the way for peace in the country.

The BBC reported the elders had gathered at Shinwari’s home to celebrate his brother’s release from Taliban captivity after several months. Samiullah was wounded in the attack, but not seriously, according to Zabiullah Zamaray, another provincial council member.

The Taliban, increasingly successful on the battlefield since worldwide troops ended most combat operations in 2014, have yet to agree to take part in the process.

The Taliban did not attend the dialogue, and it is not clear whether they will be present at a second round of four-way talks scheduled Monday.

The rockets struck near Italian Embassy, injuring two security guards, a security source told Xinhua.

“There are different opinions about the methodologies and approaches in resuming these talks”, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to journalists. The first meeting was held in Islamabad last week. The talks are aimed at a roadmap for bringing Taliban to negotiating table with the Afghan government and find political solution to lingering crisis in the militancy-plagued country.

A week earlier the self-titled Islamic State – or ISIL – claimed its first attack on a major town centre in Afghanistan.