Pak to host four-nation Taliban preparatory talks

A four-nation conference on Afghan reconciliation process will be held in Islamabad on Monday to explore ways to create consensus for talks between the Taliban and Afghanistan's government.

The four-nation group was set up last year to expedite the process of reconciliation in the war-torn country after decades of bloodshed.  Representatives of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the US will participate in the preparatory talks.  The four countries will set the platform for talks and also prepare an agenda for the second round of parley.  The first round was held in July but the process was suspended in the same month after news of Taliban Chief Mullah Omar's death was announced.