Afghanistan is pushing to end the country’s 17-year-old war. (Photo: Xinhua/ VNA)

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's envoy for peace said the delegation would serve only to exchange views with the Taliban, and its members would not necessarily be the same as a formal negotiating team. In a statement, the Taliban said the upcoming Doha talks would clarify participants' "views and policies while allowing them to share their stance", adding that the conference is not a negotiations summit or any such meeting.

US and Taliban officials have held several rounds of talks but the militant group has so far refused to talk directly to the Afghan government.