Afghan MPs oppose Taliban office in Qatar

Afghan lawmakers have voiced their strong opposition to the opening of a Taliban political office in the Qatari capital, Doha.

On Wednesday, the legislators also criticized Washington’s decision to hold talks with the militant group in Doha.

The MPs demanded that peace talks be held in Afghanistan and not in Qatar.

President Hamid Karzai has also announced that his government will not join any US negotiations with the Taliban unless the talks are led by the Afghans.

On Tuesday, a senior US official said Washington will hold its first formal meeting with the Taliban in a couple of days in Doha.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s High Peace Council stated that none of its members will travel to Qatar to sit at talks with the Taliban.

The council has been making efforts to initiate dialogue with discontented Afghans and militants who have engaged in warfare with the US-led forces and Kabul’s Western-backed government.

In addition, the Kabul government has suspended strategic talks with Washington to discuss the nature of US presence after foreign troops withdraw in 2014.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but after more than 11 years, insecurity remains across the country.