Left out of peace talks, US allies reassess Afghan support

KABUL, Mar 15 (Reuters): At a dinner party in Kabul's high-security "green zone" in March, a senior European diplomat poured himself a glass of red wine and pulled up a photograph on his iPhone.

Released by Qatar's foreign ministry on Feb. 25, it showed seven Qatari officials alongside US and Taliban negotiators as talks on ending the 17-year-old war in Afghanistan had restarted in the Gulf state the previous day.

"If Qatari officials can be at the negotiating table, then how did the US forget to invite its key allies who have fought the Afghan war since 2001?" said the diplomat, whose nation has contributed hundreds of troops to NATO's mission in the country.

"We continue to pour millions of dollars as an act of solidarity, but when it comes to peace talks, the US decided to go solo." Reuters spoke with 10 diplomats from countries spanning three continents that are among the 39 that provide military personnel to the NATO training operation, known as Resolute Support, in Afghanistan, and those that provide development aid.