The Taliban in Afghanistan has confirmed it has a preliminary agreement to open a political office overseas either in Qatar or another Islamic country.
It says the move, which Western analysts regard as significant, will help communication with the international community, the BBC reports.
The United States and Germany have been pushing for such representation in an effort to kick-start peace negotiations.
Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai was initially against the idea, but has now given it his support.
The insurgents also said they wanted prisoners released from the US-run prison in Guantanamo Bay as part of any exchange.
