Doha: The Taliban must be part of any
resolution to the Afghanistan conflict, Qatar's premier said
today after Kabul recalled its ambassador to the Gulf state in
protest at being left out of talks over the opening of a
Taliban office there.
"A solution in Afghanistan requires the participation of
the Taliban in a way that must be decided by the Afghans,"
Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani said on the sidelines of an Arab
League meeting on the Syria crisis.
"That requires talking to them," he added, without being
drawn on precisely why Afghanistan recalled its ambassador on
Wednesday.
A high-ranking Afghan official has said that while Kabul
approved of the move, it was withdrawing its envoy in protest
at not being consulted.
Afghanistan "has had brotherly relations with the
government of Qatar, which it thanks for its cooperation on
the reconstruction of Afghanistan," the foreign ministry said.
"But regarding recent developments in Afghanistan and in
the region, including Afghanistan's relations with Qatar, the
Afghan government has decided to recall its ambassador Khaled
Ahmad Zekerya from Doha for the purpose of some
consultations."
An office of the self-styled Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan would be the first internationally recognised
representation for the Taliban since it was ousted from power
by the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
Western diplomats have said it is hoped the opening of a
Taliban office would push forward the prospect of talks
intended to reconcile insurgents with the Afghan government
and end the decade-long war.
The idea of such an office has been discussed several
times, with Turkey having previously been mentioned as a
possible host, as well as Qatar.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, December 17, 2011, 23:55