Taliban Suspend Peace Talks With U.S., Karzai Lashes Out


The Afghan-based Taliban have reportedly suspended peace talks with the U.S. just days after a U.S. marine reportedly went on a shooting spree, leaving 16 dead.

In January, the Taliban opened an office in Qatar, which was intended to be used for “the purposes of reaching an understanding with the international community and for addressing some specific issues with the American invaders after arriving at an agreement with the government of Qatar,” the group said in a statement.

Preliminary discussions between the U.S. and Taliban over possible prisoner exchanges had already begun, but the Taliban announced on Thursday that it has suspended peace talks with the U.S. due to the nation’s “shaky, erratic and vague” position.

The Taliban said in a statement:

“The Islamic Emirate has decided to suspend all talks with Americans taking place in Qatar from (Thursday) onwards until the Americans clarify their stance on the issues concerned and until they show willingness in carrying out their promises instead of wasting time.”

The group added: “The Americans initially agreed upon taking practical steps regarding the exchange of prisoners and to not oppose our political office, but with the passage of time, they turned their backs on their promises and started initiating baseless propaganda portraying the envoys of the Islamic Emirate as having commenced multilateral negotiations for solving the Afghan dilemma.”

In another setback to U.S. efforts in the region, Afghan President Hamid Karzai lashed out at the nation on Friday, claiming that the U.S. isn’t fully cooperating with a probe into the killing spree carried out by an American soldier just days ago.

Karzai insisted that he wishes to maintain a good relationship with the U.S., but that it has become “increasingly difficult” due to a lack of cooperation and a respect for Afghan culture and laws.

“This has been going on for too long. This is by all means the end of the rope here,” Karzai told reporters at a meeting. “This form of activity, this behavior, cannot be tolerated. It’s past, past, past the time.”

via CNN

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