Afghanistan still willing to kick off peace talks with Taliban: official

The Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman on Sunday said the government is still willing to send a delegate to Doha, the capital of the Gulf state of Qatar, to kick off peace talks with the Taliban.

"The newly-established Taliban office in Doha must only be used for peace talks. Afghanistan wants assurances that it should be only a liaison office for direct talks. It must not be used for other political motives," spokesman Janan Musazai told a press briefing.

Nearly 12 years after it was ousted from power by the U.S.-led coalition forces, the Taliban announced that it is now ready to launch direct talks with the United States as well as with international organizations, including the United Nations. They opened a office in Doha on Tuesday.

"Once we get the guarantees. We will join the talks," the spokesman noted.

President Hamid Karzai and senior Afghan officials have accused the United States of contradicting its earlier written assurances that a new Taliban office in Qatar will not be used as a diplomatic mission or a parallel entity.

The comments came after a delay in a planned meeting between United States and Taliban on Thursday. It was caused by tensions over the naming of a new Taliban office in Doha. The Afghan government had objected to the office being called the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" -- the name given to Afghanistan during Taliban rule.

Karzai and other leaders have repeatedly offered peace talks with the Taliban. However, the insurgent group has categorically rejected the offer, saying there will be no talks until foreign troops leave the country.