Break in talks made on our request: Shaheen

KABUL on Friday said peace talks has not been halted due to attack on foreign force base in the Bagram district of central Parwan province in a veiled reference to US top negotiator Khalilzad’s announcement of pause.

Sohail Saheen, spokesperson of the Taliban’s Qatar office, told BBC there was no discussion on the Bagram attack during their last meeting with US delegation.

Saheen said: “The US side mentioned the Bagram attack and in response we reminded them about airstrikes, drone strikes and night raids in which innocent Afghans are being killed.”

Khalilzad in his twitter account wrote: "When I met the Talibs today, I expressed outrage about yesterday’s attack on Bagram, which recklessly killed two and wounded dozens of civilians," Zalmay Khalilzad, US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, tweeted.

He said the Taliban "must show they are willing & able to respond to Afghan desire for peace," and that "we’re taking a brief pause for them to consult their leadership on this essential topic."

Two civilians were killed and over 70 others injured the Taliban attack on foreign forces base in the Bagram district a couple of days back. Taliban used three explosive laden vehicles in the attack.