Karzai accuses Pakistan of torpedoing peace talks with Taliban

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Bonn, Dec 3, IRNA -- Pakistan is torpedoing Afghan peace talks with the Taliban, Afghan President Hamid Karzai told the news magazine Der Spiegel on Saturday.

He said Pakistan had so far refused to help in launching negotiations with the Taliban leadership.

Certain circles are using the Taliban to secure their influence in Afghanistan.

As long as there is no change in this situation, there won't be no talks, stressed Karzai who arrived Friday in Germany's former capital Bonn to attend the high-profile Afghanistan conference.

Focusing on the future of Karzai war-torn nation, expectations from Monday's conference have been severely dented since the announcement by Pakistan, which has leverage with insurgent groups, that it will boycott the crucial meeting by the world's key states protesting NATO's deadly strike at an Afghan-Pakistan border post.

Discussions at the Afghan confab are set to dwell on the transfer of security responsibilities to the Afghan government; peace talks with the Taliban; economic development; and long-term regional stability.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30696317