DOHA, Qatar (AP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry says a spat over the Taleban office in Qatar is the "very first test" of the Islamic militant movement's commitment to peace talks.

The opening of the Taleban office was heralded as the best chance of bringing the sides to the table, but the peace process ran aground almost immediately when Kabul objected to the wording of a sign with the name of the former Taleban regime.

The Taleban have removed the sign and lowered their flag but are divided over whether to keep them down.

Mr Kerry said the US had hoped for an important step toward reconciliation, but "it's really up to the Taleban to make that choice".

He spoke to reporters on Saturday in the Qatari capital of Doha where he is attending separate talks on Syria's civil war.