The United Nations mission in Afghanistan on Wednesday protested the Afghan government's decision to expel two senior European diplomats accused of holding unauthorized meetings with Taliban militants.
The diplomats - one worked for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the other was the acting head of the European Union mission - will leave the country on Thursday, as demanded by the Afghan government, officials said.
"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," said Aleem Siddique, a spokesman for the UN mission.
"We are hopeful to get their return as soon as possible," he said.