Officials from the anti-Taliban National Resistance Front (NRF) met the Taliban on Wednesday, the first direct talks between the two sides, local media reported.

"There were some of the former ministers, some of the former MPs (members of parliament), not only from Panjshir (where NRF fighters are holding out), but from other provinces, too," Fahim Dashty, who is working closely in Panjshir with NRF leader Ahmad Massoud, was quoted as saying.

Abdul Hafiz Mansoor, who represents the northern province, also confirmed the meeting on his Facebook account and said it was held "in a good atmosphere."

The talks were held in Charikar, the capital of neighboring Parwan province, and were due to continue on Thursday as the two sides seek a peaceful solution to avoid bloodshed or further conflict, the media reports say.