Pakistan's foreign ministry calls this week's Afghan-Taliban peace talks a 'breakthrough'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - In a May 12, 2015 file photo, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, right, speaks as Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif listens during a joint press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan. Pakistan said Wednesday, July 8, 2015, that the first official face-to-face discussions between Afghan government officials and the Taliban have made progress, with the two sides agreeing at a meeting near Islamabad to work on confidence-building measures and hold more such talks after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, File) (The Associated Press)
Pakistan's foreign ministry says this week's landmark peace talks between representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban were a "breakthrough" and that the two sides will meet again at a mutually agreed place after the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
Ministry spokesman Qazi Khalilullah didn't say whether the next round of talks will be held in Pakistan or elsewhere. He said Thursday that the atmosphere of the talks was "cordial" and that there would be a "further development."
The two sides held their first official face-to-face discussions on Tuesday in a resort town near Islamabad.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The talks came after several informal contacts between the Taliban and Kabul, most recently in Qatar and Norway.