The first peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban will begin in the Gulf state of Qatar on Saturday, after months of delay.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the meeting “historic” as he flew to Doha for the opening ceremony.
The talks will begin following a US-Taliban security deal in February.
But disagreements over a controversial prisoner swap put a stop to the next stage.
The head of the delegation, Abdullah Abdullah, said they were looking for “a peace that is just and with dignity”.
On Thursday, the Taliban confirmed they would attend, after the final group of six prisoners was released.
This is the first direct talks between the Taliban and representatives of the Afghan government.
The militants have until now refused to meet with the government, calling them powerless and American “puppets”.
The two sides aimed for political reconciliation and an end to decades of violence, which began with the 1979 Soviet invasion.
The talks were meant to start in March but have been repeatedly postponed by a dispute over the prisoner swap agreed in the February US-Taliban deal, as well as violence in the country.
