US-Taliban peace talks paused for first day of Ramadan

AFP  |  Doha 

Peace talks between the US and the were suspended for the beginning of on Monday, with the two sides at apparent loggerheads over the key issue of when foreign forces might leave

In a tweet, said the talks were pausing for the first day of the holy month of -- when Muslims fast during the day -- but would be resumed Tuesday.

Sultan Barakat, the of the and Humanitarian Studies in Doha, also said the talks would resume Tuesday, and that they had made "good progress".

But Shaheen told AFP late Sunday negotiations were stumbling over the fundamental question of when foreign forces would depart

Before the US agrees to any withdrawal, it is demanding the Taliban put in place security guarantees, a ceasefire and other commitments including an "intra-Afghan" dialogue with the government and other Afghan representatives.

The insurgents insist they won't do any of these things until the US announces a withdrawal timeline.

At the end of a large peace summit in last week, offered the Taliban a ceasefire to begin on the first day of Ramadan, but the insurgents refused.

Ghani on Monday reiterated his call for the Taliban to respect demands from last week's "loya jirga" summit that saw thousands of tribal elders and Afghans meet in

"is a month of peace and reconciliation," Ghani said.

"I once again call on the Taliban to pay respect to this month and the demands of the people for peace and reconciliation reflected (in the Loya Jirga)."

On Sunday, at least 13 people were killed and dozens more wounded after a Taliban suicide bomber and several gunmen attacked a police headquarters in northern

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, May 06 2019. 12:55 IST