News - Afghanistan

The Afghan government on Thursday stressed that peace talks must be led by Afghans, warning that Afghanistan is not the country it was ten years ago.

Emal Faizi, the Chief Spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that the Afghan government has not had role in the talks that had been held between the United States and the Taliban.

He said the Afghan government only supports an office for the Taliban in Qatar, but it will does not support talks that are held between other countries and the Taliban.

It comes as the United States and the Taliban have agreed about the Taliban office in Qatar.

There have also been reports of direct talks between Washington and the Taliban. "Some countries have held talks with the Taliban without involvement of the Afghan government. We have always emphasised that any negotiations and peace talks must be led by Afghans," Mr Emal Faizi said.

Mr Faizi said holding talks with the Taliban without involvement of the Afghan government will not have positive results and it will not be acceptable.

It comes as sources close to President Karzai have told some media that the President is not satisfied with the way talks have been held between the United States and the Taliban, as he feels the Afghan government has been marginalised.

Sources at the Presidential palace have told the Al-Arabia news that as soon as the Taliban's Qatar office is opened talks will begin under the leadership of Afghans.

Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar has also confirmed that the group has been in talks with Washington.

Whether the US will involved Afghanistan in the process or it will do it independently is something that will be clear after talks officially start in Qatar.

On Saturday the Taliban in a statement expressed willingness to hold talks with the US, but called for release of Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay.

But the State Department Spokeswoman has reportedly said that no decisions have been made whether to release the Guantanamo prisoners. A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, has however said that talks are continuing over the release of the prisoners.

"Release of Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay is one of our main demands and it is being discussed," Mujahid has said.