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John Kerry cautious on Taliban talks in Qatar | John Kerry cautious on Taliban talks in Qatar |
(2 days later) | |
US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed caution over whether peace talks on Afghanistan with the Taliban can take place. | US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed caution over whether peace talks on Afghanistan with the Taliban can take place. |
A row over the status of a Taliban office in Qatar's capital Doha has overshadowed efforts to start peace negotiations there. | A row over the status of a Taliban office in Qatar's capital Doha has overshadowed efforts to start peace negotiations there. |
Mr Kerry said he did not know if the talks could be put back on track. | Mr Kerry said he did not know if the talks could be put back on track. |
However, the US special representative on Afghanistan, James Dobbins, is reported to be in Doha. | |
A US official was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying that Mr Dobbins, who is responsible for both Afghanistan and Pakistan, would have talks with Mr Kerry and Qatari officials. | |
Mr Kerry told reporters in Doha: "We need to see if we can get back on track." | Mr Kerry told reporters in Doha: "We need to see if we can get back on track." |
However, he added that he did not know if that was possible or not. | However, he added that he did not know if that was possible or not. |
"We are waiting to find out whether the Taliban will respond," Mr Kerry said. | "We are waiting to find out whether the Taliban will respond," Mr Kerry said. |
Mr Kerry said that if the Taliban did not decide to "move forward" in the near future, the Taliban office in Doha might have to be closed. | Mr Kerry said that if the Taliban did not decide to "move forward" in the near future, the Taliban office in Doha might have to be closed. |
'Islamic Emirate' | 'Islamic Emirate' |
Washington had announced on 18 June that it was opening direct peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar, as Nato-led combat forces prepare to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. | Washington had announced on 18 June that it was opening direct peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar, as Nato-led combat forces prepare to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014. |
The US met the Taliban secretly in 2011 in Qatar, but these would be the first open talks. | The US met the Taliban secretly in 2011 in Qatar, but these would be the first open talks. |
Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced his government was also sending negotiators to Qatar to meet the Taliban. | Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced his government was also sending negotiators to Qatar to meet the Taliban. |
But a row broke out over the status of the Taliban office, which the Afghan government sees as an attempt to confer legitimacy on the insurgents. | But a row broke out over the status of the Taliban office, which the Afghan government sees as an attempt to confer legitimacy on the insurgents. |
The Afghan government objected in particular to a nameplate, which included the worlds "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan", and a white-and-black flag. | The Afghan government objected in particular to a nameplate, which included the worlds "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan", and a white-and-black flag. |
After complaints from the Qataris, the Taliban removed a nameplate and a flag, only to hoist the white-and-black banner again on a shorter flagpole. | After complaints from the Qataris, the Taliban removed a nameplate and a flag, only to hoist the white-and-black banner again on a shorter flagpole. |
Kabul said the peace talks issue had been badly handled and the Afghan foreign ministry accused the Americans of acting in bad faith. | Kabul said the peace talks issue had been badly handled and the Afghan foreign ministry accused the Americans of acting in bad faith. |
"The manner in which the office was established was in clear breach of the principles and terms of references agreed with us by the US government," the ministry said in a statement. | "The manner in which the office was established was in clear breach of the principles and terms of references agreed with us by the US government," the ministry said in a statement. |
American assurances that the flag and nameplate would be completely removed have failed to assuage Afghan anger. | American assurances that the flag and nameplate would be completely removed have failed to assuage Afghan anger. |
Mr Karzai has insisted that the peace process must be Afghan-led without interference from "foreign powers". | Mr Karzai has insisted that the peace process must be Afghan-led without interference from "foreign powers". |
He also suspended security talks with the US on the American presence in Afghanistan. | He also suspended security talks with the US on the American presence in Afghanistan. |
The Taliban office opened on 18 June - the same day that Nato handed over security for the whole of Afghanistan to the Afghan government for the first time since the Taliban were ousted in 2001. | The Taliban office opened on 18 June - the same day that Nato handed over security for the whole of Afghanistan to the Afghan government for the first time since the Taliban were ousted in 2001. |
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