KABUL: Afghan government negotiators will push for a ceasefire when talks begin with the Taliban, a top official said Sunday, signalling that the two foes could parley for a long time.

A date for the opening round of talks to be hosted in Doha has not been set, but both sides indicated that negotiations could begin soon after they wrapped up a controversial and months-long prisoner exchange last week. The Taliban's seriousness about peace will be evident from the outset, when Kabul's negotiating team pushes for a permanent ceasefire, Vice President Amrullah Saleh said.

"The first test for the Taliban is (a) ceasefire," Saleh told Tolo News, the country's biggest private television network.