"We still need a full explanation about what happened and why the office was established in clear contradiction to the written assurances given to the Afghan government by the US," Foreign ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai told reporters on Sunday.

The opening of the Qatar office last Tuesday worried Afghan government as it seemed to pose as a government-in-exile.

In the new office Taliban used the formal name of "Islamic Emirate Of Afghanistan" from their 1996-2001 government, and the white Taliban flag which is seen by Afghans as a grim reminder of the cruelties of Taliban rule.

When in power, the Taliban imposed a harsh version of law that banned television, music and cinema, stopped girls from going to school and forced woman to wear the all-covering burqa.

Mosazai added that the office could only be used for direct peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban, and could not be used for fund-raising or other purposes.

A Taliban spokesman said they were determined to keep the office's sign and flag -- provocative symbols which Kabul has described as unacceptable.

President Hamid Karzai, furious over the Taliban office, broke off ongoing Afghan-US talks on an agreement that would allow Washington to maintain soldiers in Afghanistan after the NATO combat mission ends.