Detailed Instructions: In this task, you are given a text of many news articles seperated by special token "|||||". Your task is to summarize them.
Q: Image caption Taliban spokesman Mohammed Naeem, second right, opened the Doha office 
  
 The US is to open direct peace talks with the Taliban, senior White House officials have announced. 
  
 The first meeting is due to take place in the coming days in Doha, Qatar, where the Taliban have just opened their first official overseas office. 
  
 Afghan President Hamid Karzai said his government was also sending delegates to Qatar to talk to the Taliban. 
  
 The announcement came on the day Nato handed over security for the whole of Afghanistan to government forces. 
  
 Pakistan, which was involved in background talks for the opening of the Taliban office in Qatar, welcomed the announcement. 
  
 US officials said prisoner exchanges would be one topic for discussion with the Taliban, but the first weeks will mainly be used to explore each other's agendas. 
  
 Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption President Obama: "We don't anticipate this process will be easy or quick, but we must pursue it in parallel with our military approach" 
  
 However, the talks are on condition that the Taliban renounce violence, break ties with al-Qaeda and respect the Afghan constitution - including the rights of women and minorities. 
  
 US officials told reporters the first formal meeting between US and Taliban representatives was expected to take place in Doha next week, with talks between President Karzai's High Peace Council and the Taliban due a few days after that. 
  
 The level of trust between the Afghan government and the Taliban is described as "low". 
  
 In the past, the Taliban have always refused to meet President Karzai or his government, dismissing them as puppets of Washington. 
  
 Masoom Stanekzai, secretary of the High Peace Council, would not give a specific date for their talks but said they would take place "within days". 
  
 Analysis There have been three distinct stages in the life of the Taliban. First they came as a conquering army that swept up from the south in the mid-1990s in reaction to the criminality and corruption of the Afghan civil war. Secondly came the austere Islamist government from 1996-2001, oppressive to women and with a singular view of the outside world. They were defeated in the war after 9/11. But since reorganising six years ago they insist that they are different - in favour of education even for girls. While fighting an insurgency to end foreign occupation, it is this group who have a political wing, who are keen to talk, and hinting that they would be willing to sever their links with al-Qaeda. But while the Taliban may have opened a political office, there is no guarantee that the men who are still fighting in the field will accept the results of talks. 
  
 He told the BBC it was important that all sides should feel "confident and comfortable" at the beginning of the process. 
  
 "Eventually the talks should take place on Afghan soil. This is an Afghan issue. No-one other than Afghans can decide," he said. 
  
 US officials stressed that this was the first step on a very long road, adding that there was no guarantee of success. 
  
 After opening the "political bureau" in Doha alongside Qatari officials, Taliban representative Mohammed Naeem told reporters the group wanted good relations with Afghanistan's neighbours. 
  
 A Taliban statement said: "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan doesn't want any threats from Afghanistan soil to other countries, and neither permits anyone to threaten other countries using Afghanistan soil. 
  
 "We support a political and peaceful solution that ends Afghanistan's occupation, and guarantees the Islamic system and nationwide security." 
  
 The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says these were key statements that US officials were expecting to hear. 
  
 Senior administrators describe it as a milestone on the road to peace. Others will feel it is nearer to treason 
  
 Welcoming the prospect of direct talks between the US and Taliban, the Pakistani foreign ministry said that Islamabad was "ready to continue to facilitate the process to achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan in accordance with the wishes of the Afghan people". 
  
 Pakistan was one of the main backers of the Taliban when the movement swept to power in Afghanistan in the 1990s. 
  
 Correspondents say the Taliban is still thought to rely heavily on certain elements in Pakistan and that Pakistani co-operation will be crucial in convincing the Taliban to reach an agreement with the Afghan government. 
  
 Security handover 
  
 A US official said the militant Haqqani network would also be represented by the Taliban in Doha. 
  
 However, the senior US and Nato commander in Afghanistan, Gen Joseph Dunford, cast doubt on whether the group would make peace. 
  
 Speaking by phone from Kabul he told reporters at the Pentagon: "All I've seen of the Haqqani would make it hard for me to believe they were reconcilable." 
  
 Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Former special envoy: US-Taliban talks marks "beginning of a long road" 
  
 In Afghanistan itself on Tuesday, Nato handed over security for the whole of the country to the government for the first time since the Taliban were ousted in 2001. 
  
 At a ceremony in Kabul, President Hamid Karzai said that from Wednesday "our own security and military forces will lead all the security activities". 
  
 The ceremony saw the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) hand over control of the last 95 districts in a transition process that began in 2011. 
  
 International troops are to remain in Afghanistan until the end of 2014, providing military back-up when needed. 
  
 President Karzai has expressed anger at previous US and Qatari efforts to kick-start the peace process without properly consulting his government, reports the BBC's Bilal Sarwary from Kabul. 
  
 There is also concern within the presidential palace that the Taliban will use the office in Qatar to raise funds, adds our correspondent. 
  
 The US has previously tried to negotiate with the Taliban, but never held direct talks. 
  
 In March 2012 the Taliban said it had suspended preliminary negotiations with Washington, citing US efforts to involve the Afghan government as a key stumbling block. 
  
 The Taliban set up a diplomatic presence in Qatar in January 2012 and US officials held preliminary discussions there. ||||| FILE - In this Thursday, June 13, 2013 file photo, Afghan National Army soldiers stand in position, in the Sangin district of Kandahar province southern Afghanistan. Afghanistan's fledgling security forces... (Associated Press) 
  
 American officials say U.S. representatives will begin formal meetings with the Taliban in a few days at the group's new office opening in Qatar. 
  
 Senior Obama administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record, described the Taliban's move to open a political office Tuesday in Doha as a stepping stone to full Taliban renouncement of al-Qaida. 
  
 In Doha, a Qatari official confirmed that the Taliban office was open. 
  
 The administration officials say the U.S. and Taliban representatives will hold bilateral meetings, then it is expected that Afghan President Hamid Karzai's High Peace Council will follow up with its own talks a few days later. 
  
 THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. 
  
 Afghan forces have taken over the lead from the U.S.-led NATO coalition for security nationwide, President Hamid Karzai announced Tuesday in a significant milestone in the 12-year war. 
  
 The announcement came amid a grim reminder of Afghanistan's daily violence. A few miles from where Karzai was speaking a bomb targeted a prominent lawmaker, missed him but killed three civilians. 
  
 In another key announcement, Karzai said he will soon send representatives to the Gulf state of Qatar to discuss peace with the Taliban. The talks in Doha would follow the planned opening of a Taliban political office in the Arab country. 
  
 The handover of responsibility marks a turning point for American and NATO military forces, which will now move entirely into a supporting role. It also opens the way for their full withdrawal in 18 months. 
  
 "This is a historic moment for our country and from tomorrow all of the security operations will be in the hands of the Afghan security forces," Karzai said at the ceremony, held at the new National Defense University built to train Afghanistan's future military officers. 
  
 On the ground, this means U.S. and other foreign combat troops will not be directly carrying the fight to the insurgency, but will advise and back up as needed with air support and medical evacuations. 
  
 The transition also comes at a time when violence is at levels matching the worst in 12 years, fueling some Afghans' concerns that their forces aren't ready. 
  
 Karzai said that in the coming months, coalition forces will gradually withdraw from Afghanistan's provinces as the country's security forces replace them. 
  
 In announcing the fifth and final phase of a process that began at a November 2010 NATO summit in Lisbon, Portugal, Karzai said "transition will be completed and Afghan security forces will lead and conduct all operations." 
  
 He also said he would send representatives of his High Peace Council to Doha for meetings with Taliban representatives once their office is open. 
  
 "We are hopeful that if the opening of the office is today or if tomorrow the negotiation for peace starts sooner between the High Peace Council and the Taliban," Karzai told reporters after the ceremony. 
  
 Karzai visited Qatar last week and discussed his country's stalled peace process and the possible opening of the Taliban office. Both Afghanistan and the United States support the opening as part of an effort to rekindle talks with the insurgent group. But first, Kabul and Washington say, the Taliban must renounce all ties to al-Qaida and other terrorist groups and accept Afghanistan's constitution. 
  
 "We are hopeful that after starting negotiations in Qatar, immediately the negotiations and all peace process should move into Afghanistan. Afghanistan shouldn't be center of the discussions outside of the country," Karzai said. 
  
 The Taliban have for years refused to speak to the government or the Peace Council, set up by Karzai three years ago, because they considered them to be American "puppets." Taliban representatives have instead talked to American and other Western officials in Doha and other places, mostly in Europe. 
  
 But there are indications the Taliban sent a message to Karzai late last month through the United States that they were now willing to talk to the peace council, and that American officials were trying to find ways to facilitate how the talks would take place. 
  
 "We don't have any immediate preconditions for talks between the Afghan peace council and the Taliban, but we have principles laid down," Karzai said, adding that they include bringing an end to violence and for talks to be moved to Afghanistan so they are not exploited by other countries. 
  
 Karzai also lauded the work of NATO to help Afghan forces reach the point where his military is ready to take responsibility for the country's security. 
  
 "This has been one of my greatest desires and pursuits. And I'm glad that I as an Afghan citizen and president have reached this objective today. To have the Afghan forces in command of themselves and in service of the country," Karzai said. 
  
 NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the coalition will help militarily if and when needed but will no longer plan, execute or lead operations. 
  
 Alliance training since 2009 dramatically increased the size of the Afghan National Security Forces, bringing them up from 40,000 men and women six years ago to about 352,000 today. After transition, coalition troops will move entirely into a supporting role _ training and mentoring, and in emergency situations providing the Afghans backup in combat, mainly in the form of airstrikes and medical evacuation. 
  
 "Ten years ago, there were no Afghan national security forces. Five years ago, Afghan forces were a fraction of what they are today. Now you have 350,000 Afghan troops and police. A formidable force. And time and again, we have seen them dealing quickly and competently with complex attacks. Defeating the enemies of Afghanistan, and defending and protecting the Afghan people," Fogh Rasmussen said. 
  
 Afghans will now have the lead for security in all 403 districts of Afghanistan's 34 provinces. Until now, they were responsible for 312 districts nationwide, where 80 percent of Afghanistan's population of nearly 30 million lives. Afghan security forces were until now carrying out 90 percent of military operations around the country. 
  
 Foreign forces will continue to support Afghans on the battlefield when they require it, but the Afghan army and police will be responsible for planning and leading military operations against the insurgency. 
  
 "As your forces step forward across the country, the main effort of our forces is shifting from combat to support. We will continue to help Afghan troops in operations if needed. But we will no longer plan, execute or lead those operations. And by the end of 2014, our combat mission will be completed. At that time, Afghanistan will be fully secured by Afghans," Fogh Rasmussen said. 
  
 The handover paves the way for coalition forces _ currently numbering about 100,000 troops from 48 countries, including 66,000 Americans _ to leave. By the end of the year, the NATO force will be halved. At the end of 2014, all combat troops will have left and will replaced, if approved by the Afghan government, by a much smaller force that will only train and advise. 
  
 President Barack Obama has not yet said how many soldiers he will leave in Afghanistan along with NATO forces, but it is thought that it would be about 9,000 U.S. troops and about 6,000 from its allies. 
  
 "From 2015, a new chapter will begin. We need to sustain, and build on, the progress we have made. And NATO is ready to play its part, Fogh Rasmussen said. 
  
 Called "Resolute Support," Fogh Rasmussen said the goal of the new mission "is to train, advise and assist Afghan forces." 
  
 "Afghanistan does not stand alone, now or in the future," he added. 
  
 The U.S. and its allies have already pledged to fund the Afghan forces in the immediate years after 2015. 
  
 Miles from Tuesday's ceremony, a bomb attack targeted Afghan politician Mohammed Mohaqiq, a prominent ethnic Hazara lawmaker who is a former Cabinet member. He escaped the assassination attempt but the explosion killed three civilians, the police said. 
  
 ___ 
  
 Associated Press writers Amir Shah, David Rising, Rahim Faiez and Kay Johnson contributed to this report from Kabul. |||||
A:
The Taliban has opened its long-promised office in Doha, Qatar, where it will openly hold direct peace talks with the US, Taliban officials announced today at, of all things, a press conference. Top US officials tell the BBC that peace talks will begin within days, on the condition that the Taliban renounces violence and its ties to al-Qaeda and respects Afghanistan's constitutional protections on women and minorities. Prisoner exchanges are expected to be a major issue at the talks, though US officials said they'd spend their initial meetings simply feeling out each others' agendas. The AP adds that Afghan President Hamid Karzai will pick up where the US leaves off, with an Afghan delegation heading to Qatar a few days later. Al-Jazeera points out that the move comes despite Karzai's past objections to talks held outside of Afghanistan; in a statement, the Taliban cited meeting with Afghans as a main goal of the new office. The announcements all come on the day that the US officially handed over security operations to Karzai's government.