Observers believe the U.S. is exhausted by war and sees negotiations with the Taliban as the only way to end the 17-year-long conflict

[Islamabad]—The Afghan Taliban appointed five of its senior members to its political office in Doha, Qatar, raising the likelihood that the group—recognized by many countries as a terrorist organization—will enter into peace talks with the United States.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, told The Media Line that the five leaders are: Mullah Norullah Nori, Mohammed Nabi Omari, Mohammed Fazl, Khairullah Khairkhwa and Abdul Haq Wasiq. All of them were held in the U.S.’ Guantanamo Bay Naval Base prison (known as “Gitmo”) for 13 years for hostile acts against U.S. forces. They were released in a 2014 prisoner swap under the Obama administration.

In that exchange, the U.S. released the five for U.S. Private Robert “Bowe” Bergdahl, who was captured by the Taliban in 2009 while serving in Afghanistan.

Known as the “Gitmo five,” the released prisoners were high-ranking federal cabinet members of the Taliban government, which was toppled by the U.S.-led military coalition in 2001.

The Afghan Taliban appointed five of its senior members to its political office in Doha, Qatar, raising the likelihood that the group—recognized by many countries as a terrorist organization—will enter into peace talks with the United States.

[Islamabad]—The Afghan Taliban appointed five of its senior members to its political office in Doha, Qatar, raising the likelihood that the group—recognized by many countries as a terrorist organization—will enter into peace talks with the United States.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, told The Media Line that the five leaders are: Mullah Norullah Nori, Mohammed Nabi Omari, Mohammed Fazl, Khairullah Khairkhwa and Abdul Haq Wasiq. All of them were held in the U.S.’ Guantanamo Bay Naval Base prison (known as “Gitmo”) for 13 years for hostile acts against U.S. forces. They were released in a 2014 prisoner swap under the Obama administration.

In that exchange, the U.S. released the five for U.S. Private Robert “Bowe” Bergdahl, who was captured by the Taliban in 2009 while serving in Afghanistan.

Known as the “Gitmo five,” the released prisoners were high-ranking federal cabinet members of the Taliban government, which was toppled by the U.S.-led military coalition in 2001.