Afghan Taliban denied the publication of Pakistani media that they are ready to resume meetings with US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Islamabad, and reiterated their refusal to talk with the Afghan government, Reuters reported. 

“We wanted to make it clear that we will not hold any meeting with Zalmay Khalilzad in Islamabad,” Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid in a statement.

Talks between the two sides have stalled after the Taliban accused Khalilzad of straying from the agreed agenda.

“We have made it clear again and again that we would never hold any meeting with the Afghan government as we know that they are not capable of addressing our demands,” said senior Taliban leader.

According to the US side, any settlement in Afghanistan must be between the internationally recognized Afghan government and the Taliban, who have so far refused to talk to the administration, which they describe as an illegitimate puppet regime.

The Taliban leader said that peace talks with the US delegation could be resumed if they were confident that only three issues would be discussed - the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, the exchange of prisoners and the lifting of the ban on movement of Taliban leaders.