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Afghan President Karzai to boycott talks with Taliban Afghan President Karzai to boycott talks with Taliban
(35 minutes later)
The Afghan government will not take part in peace talks with the Taliban unless the process is "Afghan-led", President Hamid Karzai has said.The Afghan government will not take part in peace talks with the Taliban unless the process is "Afghan-led", President Hamid Karzai has said.
His statement came a day after the US said it would talk to the Taliban in Qatar, where they have a new office. His statement came a day after the US agreed to talk to the Taliban in Qatar, where the militants have a new office.
Mr Karzai said the opening of the office contradicted earlier US security guarantees to his government.Mr Karzai said the opening of the office contradicted earlier US security guarantees to his government.
In protest, he added that he would suspend talks with the US on its presence after Nato leaves in 2014. In protest, he also said he would suspend talks on the US presence in Afghanistan after Nato leaves in 2014.
Earlier, four US soldiers died in a Taliban attack at an Afghan air base, heaping further pressure on the proposed talks. Earlier, four US soldiers died in a Taliban attack at an Afghan airbase, heaping further pressure on the proposed talks.
A spokesman for the Taliban said the militants had launched two rockets at Bagram airbase, the largest military base for US troops in Afghanistan.A spokesman for the Taliban said the militants had launched two rockets at Bagram airbase, the largest military base for US troops in Afghanistan.
'Afghanised' talks'Afghanised' talks
A statement from Mr Karzai's office said Afghan negotiators would stay away from the Qatar talks until "foreign powers" allowed the process to be run by Afghans.A statement from Mr Karzai's office said Afghan negotiators would stay away from the Qatar talks until "foreign powers" allowed the process to be run by Afghans.
"Unless the peace process is 'Afghanised', the High Peace Council is not attending the Taliban Qatar talks," the statement said."Unless the peace process is 'Afghanised', the High Peace Council is not attending the Taliban Qatar talks," the statement said.
The High Peace Council (HPC) is the government set up to leading peace efforts with the Taliban.The High Peace Council (HPC) is the government set up to leading peace efforts with the Taliban.
The fact that the Taliban opened its political office in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Tuesday was "totally contradictory to the guarantees that were made by the USA to Afghanistan," the statement added.The fact that the Taliban opened its political office in the Qatari capital, Doha, on Tuesday was "totally contradictory to the guarantees that were made by the USA to Afghanistan," the statement added.
The office opened just hours after the US announced that it would begin direct talks with the insurgents - and on the same day that Nato handed over the security for the whole of the country to the Afghan government for the first time since the Taliban were ousted in 2001.The office opened just hours after the US announced that it would begin direct talks with the insurgents - and on the same day that Nato handed over the security for the whole of the country to the Afghan government for the first time since the Taliban were ousted in 2001.
According to the BBC's Paul Adams in Washington, the White House has demanded - and the Taliban accepted - two preconditions for the talks: that the Taliban make a statement supporting a peace process, and that it opposes the use of Afghan soil to threaten other countries.According to the BBC's Paul Adams in Washington, the White House has demanded - and the Taliban accepted - two preconditions for the talks: that the Taliban make a statement supporting a peace process, and that it opposes the use of Afghan soil to threaten other countries.
A ceasefire is not part of the preliminary negotiations.A ceasefire is not part of the preliminary negotiations.
The BBC's Jonathan Beale, in Afghanistan, says the Afghan government clearly thinks that US preconditions should have included a commitment to talk to the Afghan government, to acknowledge the constitution of Afghanistan and to renounce violence.The BBC's Jonathan Beale, in Afghanistan, says the Afghan government clearly thinks that US preconditions should have included a commitment to talk to the Afghan government, to acknowledge the constitution of Afghanistan and to renounce violence.
Meanwhile, President Obama said he always expected "friction" at Afghan peace talks.Meanwhile, President Obama said he always expected "friction" at Afghan peace talks.
"My hope is that despite those challenges the process will proceed," he said during an official visit to Berlin on Wednesday."My hope is that despite those challenges the process will proceed," he said during an official visit to Berlin on Wednesday.
"Ultimately we're going to need to see Afghans talking to Afghans about how they can move forward and end the cycle of violence, so they can start actually building their country"."Ultimately we're going to need to see Afghans talking to Afghans about how they can move forward and end the cycle of violence, so they can start actually building their country".
'Name and flag''Name and flag'
Afghanistan's National Security Council confirmed President Karzai had suspended the fourth round of the bilateral security agreement talks. Afghanistan's National Security Council confirmed that President Karzai had suspended the fourth round of the bilateral security agreement talks.
"There is a contradiction between what the US government says and what it does regarding Afghanistan peace talks," the president's spokesman Aimal Faizi said."There is a contradiction between what the US government says and what it does regarding Afghanistan peace talks," the president's spokesman Aimal Faizi said.
He added that the president disagreed with the name given to the new Taliban office.He added that the president disagreed with the name given to the new Taliban office.
"We oppose the title the 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan' because such a thing doesn't exist," Mr Faizi said."We oppose the title the 'Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan' because such a thing doesn't exist," Mr Faizi said.
Afghan officials said Mr Karzai also objected to the Taliban flag flying over the new premises.Afghan officials said Mr Karzai also objected to the Taliban flag flying over the new premises.
'Puppets of Washington''Puppets of Washington'
The first formal meeting between US and Taliban representatives is expected to take place in Doha on Thursday.The first formal meeting between US and Taliban representatives is expected to take place in Doha on Thursday.
The US met the Taliban secretly in 2011 in Qatar, but these would be the first open talks between them.The US met the Taliban secretly in 2011 in Qatar, but these would be the first open talks between them.
President Karzai had initially said he intended to send HPC delegates to engage in the talks too.President Karzai had initially said he intended to send HPC delegates to engage in the talks too.
In the past, the Taliban have always refused to meet President Karzai or his government, dismissing them as puppets of Washington.In the past, the Taliban have always refused to meet President Karzai or his government, dismissing them as puppets of Washington.
But on Tuesday the insurgents said they would meet Afghans, suggesting they might meet HPC negotiators - that is, of course, if the HPC representatives decide to go. But on Tuesday the insurgents said they would meet Afghans, suggesting they might be prepared to meet HPC negotiators - that is, of course, if the HPC representatives reverse their own decision and decide to go.
Mr Karzai has expressed anger at previous US and Qatari efforts to kick-start the peace process without properly consulting his government, correspondents say.Mr Karzai has expressed anger at previous US and Qatari efforts to kick-start the peace process without properly consulting his government, correspondents say.
There is also concern within the presidential palace that the Taliban will use the office in Qatar to raise funds.There is also concern within the presidential palace that the Taliban will use the office in Qatar to raise funds.
In March 2012 the Taliban said it had suspended preliminary negotiations with Washington, citing US efforts to involve the Afghan government as a key stumbling block.In March 2012 the Taliban said it had suspended preliminary negotiations with Washington, citing US efforts to involve the Afghan government as a key stumbling block.