Kabul, February 4 (RHC)-- Afghanistan plans to restart peace talks with the Taliban in 2016, a high ranking government official said Thursday. Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said peace talks could resume within a matter of months.

The government official said the Taliban had struggled with internal division since revelations the militant group's long time leader Mullah Mohammad Omar had died. "There might be groups among the Taliban who might be willing to talk and give up violence," Abdullah said.

Abdullah is one of the highest ranking figures in Afghanistan's national unity government. The position of chief executive was created specifically for Abdullah, after he disputed his loss to President Ashraf Ghani in the 2014 elections.

Abdullah's upbeat comments on possible peace talks came after months of fierce fighting between government forces and Taliban fighters.

In recent years, the Taliban have regained control of much of Afghanistan, with vast swathes of rural areas slipping beyond the control of the central government.