[1]Turkey may agree to hosting a Taliban office to help reconciliation efforts in conflict-torn Afghanistan, a senior Turkish diplomat said on Tuesday.
"We have always said that Turkey is ready to do anything to contribute to peace efforts in Afghanistan. If such a request is made, we will review it and make a decision," the diplomat, who requested anonymity, told AFP.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, questioned on the issue during a visit to Hungary on Monday, said that, "Turkey will do its best if such a demand is made".
During a visit to Istanbul in December, Afghan President Hamid Karzai spoke of suggestions that the Taliban open a representation office in Turkey or another impartial country 'to facilitate reconciliation' in Afghanistan, saying he would be happy if Turkey could provide such a venue.
In February, Turkey pledged to help Afghanistan's High Council For Peace (HCP), a body tasked with seeking dialogue with the Taliban, following talks with its chairman Burhanuddin Rabbani.
Karzai set up the HCP last year to pursue talks with the Taliban in return for them laying down arms and accepting the constitution.
The Taliban have publicly rejected the peace overtures.
Turkey, NATO's sole Muslim-majority member, has also organised a series of talks between leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan since 2007 in a bid to push the two neighbours to cooperate against Islamist insurgents and improve ties poisoned by the insecurity plaguing their rugged border.
Afghanistan has been in the grip of a deadly insurgency waged by remnants of the Taliban since their regime was toppled in a US-led invasion in 2001, with the militants holding rear bases in Pakistan.
There are around 140,000 international troops in Afghanistan, including a Turkish contingent. They are due to start limited withdrawals from July with the Afghan police and army scheduled to take full control of security by 2014.
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[1] http://archive.asianage.com/kfkjpgcropdisplayjpg-191