Hawzah News Agency (Kabul, Afghanistan) - The Taliban terrorist group has called for direct talks with the United States in a declared bid to find a "peaceful solution" for the long-running war in Afghanistan, nearly a month after it waged a wave of bloody terror attacks.

The Taliban "calls on American officials to talk directly to the Political Office" of the group, read a statement released by the Taliban late on Monday, apparently referring to an alleged office in the Qatari capital.

The statement came a day before the second round of a regional peace conference in Kabul, where representatives from 25 countries are to discuss counter-terrorism and conflict resolution strategies.

The seeming openness to talks by the Taliban is unusual for the terrorist group, which has repeatedly declared that it will not enter talks until the US-led foreign troops leave the country.

There was no immediate reaction from the US side.

Earlier this month, the Taliban released an open letter to "the American people" and the US Congress, suggesting that it was prepared for talks.