President Hamid Karzai is willing to join peace talks with the Taliban if promises made by United States, Secretary of State John Kerry are upheld. A statement released from Karzai’s office stated, "John Kerry assured that the Qatari government has removed the 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan' sign from the Taliban office and the office is for peace talks only." The U.S. Department of State spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said that the U.S. did "not recognize the name Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.”

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In the midst of the peace talks beginning, the Taliban has offered a prisoner exchange.  Bowe Bergdahl has been a prisoner of War since 2009. He was 23 when the Taliban in southeastern Paktika province captured him.

A Taliban spokesman said that they would consider releasing Bergdahl, if the United States released five Taliban members being held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. However, the men “are among the most high level detainees at Guantánamo.” Two of the five men that the Taliban demands be released are senior Taliban commanders, who are accused of murdering thousands of Afghani Shiites. Additionally, another prisoner is the former deputy director of Taliban intelligence,

However, President Hamid Karzai said the Taliban delegation "is still not sending the signals which would allow peace talks" to start. This leads people to believe the prisoner exchange will play a role in peace talks.