The Haqqani network, one of the most feared armed groups operating in Afghanistan, is willing to enter peace negotiations with the US and Afghan governments - if the Taliban were also to enter talks.

The group, often allied with the Afghan Taliban, also said it had rejected previous peace gestures as attempts to 'create divisions' within the armed opposition.

Talat Mahsood, a former lieutenant general in Pakistan's army, talks to Al Jazeera's Teymoor Nabili about the significance of the Haqqani statement.