Afghan president leaves for Qatar for state visit

Afghan President Hamid Karzai left for Qatar Saturday for a state visit during which he would discuss with the Qatari leaders the opening of a Taliban office to conduct negotiations.The Taliban insurgent group, fighting Afghan and the NATO-led forces stationed in the country, had in the past rejected the government's offers for talks, saying there will be no dialogue in the presence of foreign forces in the country.President Hamid Karzai, leading a high level delegation, left this noon for Qatari capital Doha on a two-day state visit at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifah Al- Thani," tsaid a statement issued by Presidential Palace here.During his visit to the Persian Gulf state, the President is scheduled to hold meetings with the Amir of Qatar as well as other senior Qatari officials to discuss ways to enhance the level of bilateral cooperation and on Afghanistan's peace process, it added.He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Zulmai Rasoul, National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Presidential Advisor on International Affairs Marufi, Chairman of the High Peace Council Salauddin Rabbani, Head of the Council's Secretariat Mohammad Masoom Stanikzai, Chief of Staff to the president Abdul Karim Khuram and the presidential Spokesman Aimal Faizi, according to the statement.