Afghan government threatens to boycott Taliban talks Updated 20 June 2013, 15:31 AEST Reporter: Michael Edwards Radio

Australia Slug: Afghan Taliban talks INTRO In a serious blow to any hopes of peace, Afghanistan's government has threatened to boycott proposed talks between the United States and the Taliban. President Hamid Karzai appeared enthusiastic at first, but now he says his government won't take part unless the talks are 'Afghan led'. Michael Edwards has more from Radio Australia. TEXT The sight of death and destruction is a regular occurrence for people in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. They're tired of it and they want to see it end. AFGHAN MAN CLIP 1 (translated): Fighting is not a solution for our country. We all must find a way to establish peace in Afghanistan. We welcome any peace movement, whether it is in Qatar or any other place. God help Afghan bring peace and stability. The Taliban has signalled it's willing to consider a political solution to the conflict but this is being treated sceptically by a public that has only ever seen the insurgents pursue a policy of violence. AFGHAN MAN 2 (translated): We are not optimistic about the Qatar office because we have tested the Taliban in the past. They are not willing for peace. We have called for peace 10 times but their response was violence against the people's wishes. But the Taliban's opening of a new office in Qatar's capital of Doha is a signal to some that the insurgents are willing to consider a compromise. The Afghan president Hamid Karzai was initially enthusiastic, announcing that his officials would meet the Taliban in Doha. But since the US said it would too attend the meetings, he's changed his tune and is now threatening to boycott the talks. He's furious the Taliban is using the name the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and flying the flag it used while it was in power. And he also wants the Taliban to deal directly with his officials and not the US. Heather Barr is an Afghan analyst with Human Rights Watch. HEATHER CLIP 1 (Female, English): It's clear that Karzai has felt sidelined throughout the long process of the US trying to launch talks with the Taliban.

For now president Karzai has also suspended bilateral talks with the US to determine troop numbers that will remain in Afghanistan after 2014. Heather Barr says it marks a new low in US/Afghan relations. HEATHER CLIP 2 (Female, English): Well, there's no way not to see the US coming to Qatar to sort of seek the attendance of the Taliban as not giving them legitimacy. And it is almost like now the US has two relationships that relate to Afghanistan - one with the Taliban, one with the Karzai government. You can see that this would make Karzai furious. Previous attempts at negotiation stumbled in 2012 when the Taliban objected to the Afghan government's participation in the talks.