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Taliban Protest Leaves Qatar Office Closed

July 09, 2013

The Afghan Taliban has temporarily closed its office in Qatar to protest the removal of the Taliban flag and a sign with the movement's formal name, the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," on it.

Taliban officials were quoted by AP on the reasoning behind the shuttering, with sources adding that Taliban negotiators in Doha stopped using the office soon after the symbols were removed last month.

The insurgents blame Washington and Afghan President Hamid Karzai for using the issue as an excuse to abandon peace talks.

Karzai accused the Taliban of using the office to set up a government in exile.

The office raised hopes for a negotiated end to the war in Afghanistan, which is in its 12th year.

Based on reporting by AP and tribune.com.pk

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/taliban-qatar-office-closure-protest/25041120.html

Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.