Members of the Taliban's leadership council have met secretly with the United Nations representative for Afghanistan to discuss the possibility of laying down their arms, Reuters quoted a U.N. official as saying today. The regional commanders from the Taliban's Quetta Shura requested the meeting with U.N. Special Representative Kai Eide and it took place on Jan. 8 in Dubai, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "They requested a meeting to talk about talks. They want protection, to be able to come out in public. They don't want to vanish into places like Bagram," the official said, referring to a detention centre at the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan.
