KABUL, Jan 21: US envoy Marc Grossman arrived in Kabul on Saturday for talks with President Hamid Karzai on preliminary peace negotiations with the Taliban.

“The United States stands ready to assist in any way we can an Afghan-led reconciliation process to find a peaceful end to this conflict,” he said in a statement.

“I look forward to calling on President Karzai and discussing next steps.” Mr Grossman’s visit comes in the wake of an announcement by the Taliban that it planned to open a political office in Qatar ahead of talks with Washington on ending Afghanistan’s 10-year war.

A US official said that if Mr Karzai was agreeable, the talks could open within weeks.

Speaking in parliament shortly after Mr Grossman’s arrival, Mr Karzai reiterated that his government accepted the plan for a Qatar office “for the purpose of peace”.

He noted that his government had also recently met a delegation from the second biggest militant group, Hizb-i-Islami, “in brotherhood and good atmosphere”.

“Recently we had talks with delegations from the Hizb-i-Islami of Afghanistan led by His Excellency Engineer Gulbuddin Hekmatyar,” Mr Karzai told the Afghan parliament on the opening day of its winter session.

Hizb-i-Islami is a radical militant group which shares many of the Taliban’s anti-foreigner, anti-government aims, and has widespread support.

“In these talks we expressed our point of view in a brotherly and friendly manner. We hope that our talks continue and bring beneficial results,” Mr Karzai said.—Agencies