
KABUL -- Talks with Western officials in Oslo have showcased the Afghan Taliban's desperate efforts to gain international recognition for their government, and diplomats are hopeful that the engagement may soon bear some fruit.
The three days of talks began on Jan. 24 outside the Norwegian capital at the Soria Moria, a hotel and conference center, and were the first since the Taliban came to power on Aug. 15 after pushing out the U.S.-backed regime of President Ashraf Ghani.