The United Nations Security Council has removed at least 14 Taliban leaders from its international blacklist in a bid to boost peace talks with the militant group
The delisted individuals are all members of Afghanistan's peace council.
The UN says the move is meant to engage the militant group in peace talks with the government and encourage reconciliation efforts in the war-torn country.
"The international community recognizes efforts made by member of the High Peace Council to work towards peace, stability, and reconciliation," said Peter Wittig, who heads the Security Council for the month of July.
At least 123 more Taliban names still remain on the UN sanctions list, which calls for an asset freeze, a travel ban and an arms embargo.
The latest measure follows a recent Security Council decision to treat al-Qaeda and Taliban separately when it comes to sanctions.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has recently formed a peace council to lead talks with the Taliban, naming former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani as chairman of the council.
The newly-established peace council has been making efforts to initiate dialogue with discontented Afghans and militants who have engaged in warfare with the government.
The council has expressed willingness to listen to the legitimate demands of the militants.
Meanwhile, senior Pakistani officials have frequently said that efforts by the Afghan government to make peace with the Taliban would fail without the assistance of Islamabad.
The development comes after senior officials in the US and UK floated the idea of making peace with the Taliban, despite the annihilation of militants having been one of the main objectives of the 2001 US-led invasion.
Several top militant commanders remain at large years after the invasion, which allegedly aimed to capture or kill al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders blamed for the September 11, 2001 attacks.
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