DUBAI - 16 powerful Taliban leaders have been meeting with High Peace Council in the United Arab Emirates to launch peace talks.

Delegation of the Afghan government's peace council at the meeting will discuss with representatives of the Taliban to launch peace talks. 

An Afghan official, who requested anonymity, told BBC that five Taliban commanders who are currently fighting the Afghan government also attended the meeting.

It is said that six former ministers of Taliban regime have participated in these negotiations.

Recently Taliban representatives led by Mohtism Agha Jan have met the Afghan government to start the practical steps of Afghan peace talks in Dubai.

After the meeting Mohtism Agha Jan, had said in a message that the group is prepared to launch the practical steps of the peace talks.

The National Security Council in a session has welcomed the Taliban remarks and considered it as a valuable and effective way to end the crisis and conflict in the country.

At the meantime Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied Dubai talks.

But some experts are skeptical about holding such meetings and say before Afghan officials have been met, repeatedly with Taliban officials in Dubai, but has no so far effective result of these meetings.

They recognize Pakistani circles as the main obstacles in the way of peace and insist that Pakistan must be persuaded to peace and stability in the country.

However, a former Afghan Taliban minister Maulvi Abdul Raqeeb who was among a powerful faction of the Taliban calling for direct talks with President Hamid Karzai's government was shot and killed Monday in Pakistan's northwest city of Peshawar, on the border with Afghanistan. (BNA)