By Reuters

Published: February 4, 2012

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will travel to Qatar next week to talk with officials from the Gulf Arab state on the Afghan reconciliation process, a senior government official said on Saturday.     

The Afghan Taliban announced last month it would open a political office in Qatar, suggesting the group may be willing to engage in negotiations that would likely give it government positions or official control over much of its historical southern heartland.

Pakistan is seen as critical to US efforts to stabilise Afghanistan and is believed to have influence over militant groups which have been fighting to topple President Hamid Karzai’s government.