Afghan protesters burn a US flag during an anti-US demonstration in Jalalabad, April 15, 2013.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Afghan protesters have pelted American forces with stones and torched a fuel tanker near a US military base in the capital city of Kabul.\n<\/p>\n
The violent clashes broke out as a group of Afghans was rallying for land rights on the road that links Kabul to Jalalabad city. Meanwhile, a convey of US military vehicles arrived at the scene and tried to get past into the nearby base.\n<\/p>\n
The US troops started firing into the air to disperse the protesters. The gunfire further enraged the protesters and turned the rally into an anti-US protest.\n<\/p>\n
The developments come as Washington is trying to defuse tensions with Kabul over the recent opening of a Taliban office in Qatar.\n<\/p>\n
The US special envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins will be talking with President Hamid Karzai in Kabul on Monday.\n<\/p>\n
The Afghan government has reacted angrily to the opening of the Taliban office which is backed by the US.\n<\/p>\n
In response, Kabul suspended talks with Washington on a proposed security agreement. Afghan officials say they want to lead any talks with the militants and that Taliban\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s Qatar office contradicts earlier US security guarantees.\n<\/p>\n
Angry Afghan demonstrators have also staged numerous protest rallies against the presence of foreign troops in various parts of their country in recent months.\n<\/p>\n
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but after more than 11 years, insecurity remains across the country.\n<\/p>\n
JR\/SS<\/p>\n<\/div>\n