Mr007
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 Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:33 pm Post subject: Afghanistan's Taliban suspend peace talks with US |
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A US soldier watches members of the Afghan Public Protection Force arrive at the transition ceremony of private security forces to Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) on the outskirts of Kabul President Karzai says Afghan troops should take the lead for nationwide security next year
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Taliban Conflict
* Nato's crisis
* Tipping point?
* Taliban strength
* Taliban explainer
The Taliban in Afghanistan have suspended preliminary peace negotiations with the United States.
The group blamed the Americans' "ever-changing position" and said US efforts to involve the Afghan authorities was a key stumbling block to further talks.
The Taliban have objected to this, as they regard the Kabul government as illegitimate.
Meanwhile, President Karzai has called on Nato forces to leave Afghan villages after a US soldier killed 16 civilians.
Officials told the BBC that the priority for Afghan government was to avoid civilian casualties at any cost.
President Hamid Karzai told the visiting US defence secretary Leon Panetta that Afghan troops should take the lead for nationwide security in 2013.
'Pointless'
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“Start Quote
International security forces have to be taken out of Afghan village outposts and return to [larger] bases”
End Quote President Hamid Karzai
* Shooting suspect flown out
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Taliban said they had agreed to talks focusing on a political office being established in Qatar and on a prisoner exchange.
They said they were suspending the talks because of "the shaky, erratic and vague standpoint of the Americans".
US diplomatic sources say the Taliban were told by US negotiators that the Afghan government had to be a part of any negotiations.
The Taliban statement reiterated that the group "considers talking with the Kabul administration as pointless."
Other conditions reportedly set by the US in the talks include accepting of the Afghan constitution - which the Taliban have rejected - and publicly denouncing al-Qaeda.
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Kabul says the Taliban's suspension of the talks is a significant setback for efforts to begin substantive negotiations with the insurgents.
It was thought that a deal to exchange five Taliban fighters currently held at Guantanamo Bay for a kidnapped American soldier was only weeks away, our correspondent adds.
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Taliban talks
* Taliban peace talks had not formally begun but analysts say some steps had been taken to move such discussions closer
* The Taliban set up a diplomatic office in the Gulf state of Qatar in January, the preferred location should peace talks begin
* US officials have met the Taliban in Qatar and held preliminary discussions
* One of the Taliban conditions was the release of five prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay. Negotiations on their fate were under way
* A senior aide to President Hamid Karzai went to the prison and met the men
Withdrawal plan
The killing of 16 Afghan villagers - including women and children - on Sunday has intensified calls for the withdrawal of foreign troops.
A statement from President Karzai's office said that as a result of the massacre, "international security forces have to be taken out of Afghan village outposts and return to (larger) bases".
The American soldier accused of carrying out the shooting was based at a small compound in Kandahar province. The statement said the incident had harmed relations with the US.
The suspect - who has not been named or charged - was flown to Kuwait on Wednesday.
Afghan MPs had demanded that he be tried in Afghanistan. Correspondents say that scenario is very unlikely.
Nato and the US administration have insisted that there will be no change of strategy in Afghanistan.
Nato's International Security Assistance Force plans to withdraw all of its combat forces by the end of 2014. American troops are also following that timetable.
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