Security guards stand outside the new Taliban office in Doha before the official opening on June 18, 2013.
Afghanistan has demanded a full explanation as to how the US and Qatar allowed the Taliban militant group to raise its flag over its office in the Qatari capital of Doha.
The Afghan government on Sunday asked for the explanation amid the ongoing dispute over the Taliban compound, which Kabul says appears as something similar to an embassy in exile instead of a political outpost.
The tension between Washington and Kabul broke out on June 18 when the Taliban opened the new political office in Doha under the name of Å“the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.”
On June 19, Afghan lawmakers voiced their strong opposition to the opening of the controversial office in the Persian Gulf Arab monarchy.
Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai said on Sunday that President Hamid Karzaiâ„¢s government remains willing to dispatch a delegation to Doha to participate in negotiation with the Taliban only after it is given explanations over the opening of the office and assurances that the site does not suggest a diplomatic revival by the Taliban.
He added that the ceremonial opening was in breach of Å“assurances” from the US, noting, Å“We still need a full explanation about what happened. That needs to be explained in a clear, transparent manner to the Afghan government and those discussions and contacts are taking place as we speak.”
Å“The Afghan government remains fully committed to pursuing a process of peace negotiations with the armed opposition, including the Taliban, but within the confines of the conditions and the principles and the assurances that we have established,” Mosazai further said.
Also on June 20, the Afghan ministry released a statement expressing Kabulâ„¢s anger and frustration at the opening of Taliban office.
Å“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 statement read.
Senior officials in Kabul also say the Taliban militants will be able to use the office to raise funds for their campaign in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Mosazai suggested that Kabul expects to lead official peace talks and would push to move them to Afghanistan after Å“initial contacts” between the Taliban and Washington.
MR/HN
This article originally appeared on: Press TV