Taliban Flagpole Removed to Aid Peace Talks

A flagpole that became one of the symbols for derailed peace talks with the Afghan government was removed by police on Sunday from the Taliban's Qatar office, an official said. The militant group was due to hold discussions with U.S. officials last week in hopes of ending Afghanistan’s 12-year-old war, but the meeting was canceled when the Afghan government objected to the fanfare of the Taliban’s new Qatar office that was complete with flag and official plaques. The flag and plaque were removed last week and the flagpole was no longer visible at the building on Sunday, Reuters reported.

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