Two face Afghanistan expulsion over Taliban 'talks'

Two senior diplomats, one Irish and the other British, are set to be expelled from Afghanistan tomorrow amid allegations they held talks with Taliban militants.

The Afghan government ordered them to leave after accusing them of being “detrimental to the national security of the country”.

Irishman Michael Semple, deputy head of the EU mission in Kabul, and Mervyn Patterson, a senior UN official understood to be a British citizen from the North, visited the volatile southern province of Helmand on Monday.

The UN said they talked to people on the ground there but strongly denied that this included Taliban militants.

But Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s spokesman, Humayun Hamidzada, claimed the two were involved in activities “that were not their jobs.”

Aleem Siddique, a spokesman for the UN mission in Afghanistan, described the situation as a “misunderstanding” but said both men had agreed to leave the country tomorrow.

“We see no basis for such a decision but we respect the sovereignty of the government of Afghanistan and have every intention to abide by that decision,” he said.

“We are hopeful to get their return as soon as possible.”

Mr Siddique added: “There is a miscommunication between the authorities in Helmand province and the central government, and that’s what we’re trying to clear up.

“We don’t talk to Taliban, full stop.”

Both men have worked in Afghanistan for many years, speak local languages fluently and understand the country’s complex tribal structures.

The diplomatic row comes amid claims the British secret service has held secret peace talks with senior Taliban insurgents.