Afghanistan calls off talks with U.S. on security agreement

KABUL, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan government on Wednesday announced that it suspended talks with the United States on the proposed security agreement, saying the United States had contradictory stance over the peace process in Afghanistan, local media reported.

"The ongoing fourth round of talks between Afghanistan and the United States on the security agreement is suspended. The decision was taken because of U.S. inconsistency in statements and actions in regard to the Afghan peace process," local TV channel TOLO reported, citing a statement released by the Afghan National Security Council.

The announcement came one day after Taliban opened a political office in Doha, the capital of Gulf state of Qatar.

According to the report, U.S. representatives are to launch talks with the Taliban there on Thursday.

The United States and Afghanistan signed a U.S.-Afghanistan Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement in May 2012. The two countries began talks on proposed Bilateral Security Agreement ( BSA) late last year.

The controversial agreement of BSA, if signed, would guarantee the presence of U.S. military at least for several years in Afghanistan, a contentious issue that has been opposed by some circles at home and neighboring states.

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