<span style="color: #222222;">The United States and the Taliban have opened fresh negotiations in Doha. The talks mark the seventh round of negotiations aimed at ending Afghanistan's longest war. <br />''<br />''The negotiations have, so far, centred on four issues – counter-terrorism, presence of foreign troop presence, an intra-Afghan dialogue and a permanent ceasefire.<br />''</span><br />''US officials previously said, they are hoping for a deal before the upcoming Afghan presidential elections in September, which have already been delayed twice. <br />''<br />''US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who paid an unannounced visit to Kabul on Tuesday, said he hoped for a peace deal with the Taliban before 1st September.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">A potential deal would see the US agreeing to withdraw its troops after more than 17 years in Afghanistan, in return for the Taliban guaranteeing the country never again becomes a safe haven for violent extremist groups, as was the case with Al-Qaeda before the September 11, 2001 attacks.</span><br />