The Turkish authorities are working to set talks with the Taliban, Turkey's president said on Wednesday.
"Turkey's relevant institutions are currently working until we have some talks with the Taliban. Maybe even I can be in a position to receive the person who will be their leader," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a joint TV interview broadcast live on CNN Turk and Kanal D.
Erdogan said that he earlier spoke with the Qatari leader and they discussed "where can we stop the steps taken by the Taliban and where can we take a step towards peace."
If the Taliban is not taken under control, "it will not be possible for us to achieve peace in Afghanistan," he asserted.
Violence has escalated across Afghanistan as US-led foreign forces have almost withdrawn following 20 years of military operations.
The Taliban have rapidly captured several smaller administrative districts, and are now targeting towns and cities. They have captured nine provincial capitals from government forces in six days.
